The three types of bonuses
Signing Bonus
First, the one that confuses the issue. Signing bonuses are part of the salary, count against the cap hit and are capped at $92,500 for players on ELCs. They are paid out in a lump sum in the summer, and the amount is not included in buyout calculations.
Nearly every player on an ELC in the NHL has a signing bonus, and a lot of them are at the max amount. It would be very unusual for a top draft pick to not have a contract structured that way.
Performance Bonuses
There are two kinds of these, and herein lies the source of Lou's ABC quote, and a lot of confusion.
Schedule A Bonuses
They're called Schedule A bonuses because, well, they aren't actually. That's the common parlance term for them but the
CBA defines them in Exhibit 5 as:
1. Individual "A" Bonuses Paid by Clubs
The maximum amount payable for any single category of Individual "A" Bonuses identified below is $212,500 per season. (For example, an Entry Level SPC may not contain bonuses of $212,500 for 20 goals and an additional $212,500 for 30 goals, provided, however, it may contain a bonus of $100,000 for 20 goals and $112,500 for 30 goals). An Entry Level SPC may contain any number of Individual "A" Bonuses; however, a Player may not receive more than $850,000 in total aggregate Individual "A" Bonuses per season. Individual "A" Bonuses are payable by the Clubs (as opposed to the League).
The numbers that matter there are $850,000 in total and each type can't be more than $212,500 in total. You can sort the money around in any way you want that meets those two criteria.
The criteria for these A bonuses is fairly simple. They are all for tangible things with clear meanings. Goals, points, ice time and things like attendance at the All-Star game or being named to the All-Rookie team. The type and minimum threshold for the bonuses vary by position as well.
We'll look at the ones for forwards to get the gist of it.
(a)
Forwards
(i) Ice time (aggregate and/or per Game). Player must be among top six (6) forwards on the Club (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played by Player and comparison group). (Note: an Entry Level SPC may contain bonuses for both aggregate and per Game ice time; however, the maximum aggregate amount the Player may receive on account of the ice time category is $212,500.)
(ii) Goals: 20 Goal Minimum
(iii) Assists: 35 Assist Minimum
(iv) Points: 60 Point Minimum
(v) Points Per Game: .73 Points Per Game Minimum (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played)
(vi) Plus-Minus Rating: Among top three (3) forwards on the Club (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played by Player and comparison group).
(vii) End-of-Season NHL All-Rookie Team
(viii)
NHL All-Star Game (selected to play or plays)
(ix) NHL All-Star Game MVP
So, if I want to make sure my top draft pick forward does earn his max bonuses, I might agree to award him the max $212,500 for 35 assists, the NHL All-Star game, if I think he's a lock for that, and plus-minus because I plan to put him on a scoring line that won't get hemmed in, and well, you get the picture.
Schedule A bonuses (max $850,000): $212,500 for any of the following achievements - top 6 forward on team in ice time (total or average per game, min 42GP), 20 goals, 35 assists, 60 points, 0.73 points per game (min 42GP), top 3 forward on team in +/- (min 42GP), All Rookie team, All Star game, All Star game MVP. Schedule B bonuses (max $2,000,000): $2,000,000 for any of the following achievements - top 10 forward in the league in goals/assists/points/points per game (min 42GP), top 5 in league in Hart/Selke/Richard voting, NHL First or Second team all star.
The Auston Matthews contract and bonuses