Performance bonuses are unfortunately not a viable solution to the Rasmus Sandin contract negotiation issues
Rasmus Sandin remains one of the few unsigned RFAs just a couple weeks before training camp begins. Some "arm-chair" GMs have suggested that the Leafs could sign him to a cheaper deal that is performance bonus laden and push the bonuses to be paid next year. Unfortunately, there's a few reasons why that cant happen.
According to the CBA a player can only have bonuses incorporated into their contracts for three reasons:
1) The player is on an entry-level contract.
2) The player has signed a one-year contract and is over 35 years old.
3) The player has signed a one-year contract after returning from a long-term injury (has played 400 or more games, and spent 100 or more days on the Injured Reserve in the last year of their most recent contract).
Given that Sandin doesn't meet any of the above criteria, he is ineligible for any type of performance bonus in his next contract. That could be one of the reasons he is holding out for more money, along with being unsure of where he fits on the Leafs' crowded blueline.
If the Leafs were able to include bonuses in Sandin's next contract, it would allow them to exceed the salary cap due to the maximum performance bonus cushion amount of 7.5% of the cap limit. With the Leafs always flexing their financial muscle, if they were able to arrange these types of contracts, you can bet your life savings that they would have multiple players locked up to deals with heavy performance bonus structures.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 12 | 119 ANSWERS Performance bonuses are unfortunately not a viable solution to the Rasmus Sandin contract negotiation issues Should the NHL loosen up restrictions on performance bonuses in contracts to allow teams more financial flexibility? | ||
| Yes | 76 | 63.9 % |
| No | 43 | 36.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
