How do entry-level contracts work?
Players younger than 25 as of Sept. 15 in the calendar year their first NHL contract is signed are subject to the terms of Article 9 of the CBA and must sign an entry-level contract (ELC). This means the amount of salary and team-paid performance bonuses is capped, depending on his draft year or the year he signs. The length of the ELC is also specified based on the player's age.
AGE LENGTH 18-21 3 years 22-23 2 years 24 1 year 25+ No Restriction *
* A one-year entry-level restriction applies to drafted players from Europe aged 25 to 27.
All ELCs are two-way contracts and can be extended by as many as two seasons (see "How does a contract slide?" in this FAQ). The maximum allowable salaries for players selected in each entry draft are as follows:
2001: $858,800 2002: $900,600 2003: $942,400 2004: $984,200 2005: $850,000 2006: $850,000 2007: $875,000 2008: $875,000 2009: $900,000 2010: $900,000 2011 and beyond: $925,000
ELCs can contain two types of bonuses: signing bonuses and performance bonuses.
Signing bonuses cannot exceed 10 percent of the contract's total compensation. They are typically paid out annually.
Performance bonuses, or Exhibit 5 bonuses, cannot exceed $2,850,000. These bonuses are divided into two categories: Schedule A and Schedule B.
Schedule A bonuses cannot exceed $212,500 per individual bonus and $850,000 in aggregate. Following is a run down.
| SKATERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Forwards | Defensemen | |
| Ice time (aggregate or per game) | Player must be among top six forwards on the club (minimum 42 regular season games played by player and comparison group). An ELC may contain a provision for both aggregate and per-game ice time; however, the maximum a player may earn for ice time bonuses is $212,500. | Player must be among top four defensemen on the club (minimum 42 regular season games played by player and comparison group). An ELC may contain a provision for both aggregate and per-game ice time; however, the maximum a player may earn for ice time bonuses is $212,500. |
| Goals | 20 | 10 |
| Assists | 35 | 25 |
| Points | 60 | 40 |
| Points Per Game | 0.73 (min 42 gp) | 0.49 (min 42 gp) |
| Plus-Minus | Among top three forwards on club (min 42 gp) | Among top three defensemen on club (min 42 gp) |
| Blocked Shots | — | Among top two defensemen on club (min 42 gp) |
| All-Rookie Team | — | — |
| All-Star Game | Selected to play or plays | Selected to play or plays |
| All-Star Game MVP | — | — |
| GOALIES | |
|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 1,800 minimum |
| Goals-Against Average | GAA <= median GAA of all goalies who played 25 or more regular season games; if there is an even number of these goaltenders, the median will be the average of the two middle values. Must play in at least 25 regular season games, with at least 30 minutes in each game (including minutes replaced by an extra attacker). |
| Save Percentage | Sv% >= median Sv% of all goalies who played 25 or more regular season games; if there is an even number of these goaltenders, the median will be the average of the two middle values. Must play in at least 25 regular season games, with at least 30 minutes in each game (including minutes replaced by an extra attacker). |
| Wins | 20 (minimum 30 minutes in each game, including minutes replaced by an extra attacker) |
| Shutouts | Shutouts >= media number of shutouts of all goalies who played 25 or more regular season games; if there is an even number of goaltenders, the median will be the average of the two middle values. Must play in at least 30 minutes in each game (including minutes replaced by an extra attacker) |
| All-Rookie Team | — |
| All-Star Game | Selected to play or plays |
| All-Star Game MVP | — |
Schedule B bonuses cannot exceed $2 million in aggregate. Following is a run down.
Hart, Norris, Vezina, Selke, Richard Winner: $250,000 Second: $200,000 Third: $150,000 Fourth: $100,000 Fifth: $50,000 Lady Byng Winner: $150,000 Second: $100,000 Third: $50,000 Jennings Winner: $50,000 * pro-rated share if co-winner Calder Winner: $212,500 Second: $150,000 Third: $100,000 All-Star Team 1st Team: $100,000 2nd Team: $50,000 Conn Smythe Winner: $250,000
NOTES: Teams may only negotiate bonuses for Hart, Richard, Vezina, Jennings, Norris, Conn Smythe and Selke awards, or any award the league creates in the future that is similar in stature ... The above bonuses are paid by the league, regardless of whether they are written into the ELC. However, only Schedule B bonuses written into the ELC count against a team's cap number.