Habs returning Perry to the taxi squad does not mean he needs to go through waivers again. In fact, he should get demoted again for the days off to save more Cap room and prevent him from being with the team for 30 days happening that quickly -- that, or 10 games played are the criteria for needing to go through waivers again if he is demoted to the taxi squad.
Stretch it out as long as you can to accumulate Cap room for the IR in the future and for bonus money that will likely, at least in part, need to be paid out to Kotkaniemi, Suzuki and Romanov or, to get a shot at an impact rental at the deadline. Not having the Cap room to do so would amputate next year's cap (the CBA forces us to apply it no later than the next year) and perhaps influence our ability to re-sign Tatar, Danault, Armia, Lehkonen and Poehling, all due for extensions.
Why waste cap room next year when there is a mechanism to accumulate it this year for what needs to be taken into account in terms of bonus money?It's unclear, for me, whether it can be counted through available Cap space this year or, be forced not next year's Cap for lack of Cap room this year or must necessarily be applied to next year's Cap?
"A" Level Bonuses
"A" Bonuses are worth $212,500 each, to a maximum of $850,000 (maximum 4 achieved). They are achieved by each of:
Forwards
-20 goals
-35 assists
-60 points
-Top six in Time on Ice among forwards (in total and/or per game) on team (minimum 42 games)
-Top three in +/- among forwards on team (minimum 42 games)
-0.73 points per game (minimum 42 games)
-End-of Season All Rookie Team
-All Star Selection
-All Star MVP
KK's contract likely is comprised of four 'A' Level bonus payouts, up to a maximum of 850K and the rest of the difference from 2.5M in 'B' level bonuses. Suzuki's contract allows for two 'A' Level bonus payouts only and Romanov for One 'A' Level bonus payout.
Suzuki has a solid shot at earning at lest one of his two 'A' level bonuses in this shortened season and could conceivably get both for 425K, whether through top-6 in ice time for forwards or +\- 0r an astounding offensive production in goals or assists.
Romanov would need to achieve one of the following to achieve his only 'A' Level bonus.
Defensemen
-10 goals
-25 assists
-40 points
-Top four in Time on Ice among Defensemen (in total and/or per game) on team (minimum 42 games)
-Top three in +/- among defensemen on team (minimum 42 games)
-0.49 points per game (minimum 42 games)
-Top two among defensemen on team in blocked shocks
-End-of Season All Rookie Team
-All Star Selection
-All Star MVP
In all likelihood, Romanov will earn his 212.5K in bonuses. Just top-4 TOI would trigger it.
Best case scenario, Suzuki and Romanov will combine for 425K between them, Suzuki falling just short of a second 'A' Level bonus being triggered.
It's anybody's guess how KK will continue to progress this season and how many 'A' Level bonuses are truly attainable for him?
Whatever the amount, it is unlikely that Kotkaniemi will achieve those 'B' Level bonuses as he would need to achieve one of the following:
"B" Level Bonuses
"B" Bonuses are worth a maximum of $2 Million, and the full amount of the bonus is awarded if any of the following is achieved:
-Forwards: Top Ten in NHL Forward Goals, Assists, points, or points per game (min 42 GP)
Send Perry down, along with a waiver free rookie to accumulate as much cap room as possible on the days off.
Let's be safe and say there are three 'A' Level bonuses attained by the Habs youngsters. That's 637.5K needed in Cap room. Without injuries all season long, we would already cover this with the 775K that was available before the Armia injury.
Accumulate as much as possible throughout the season to avoid any unwelcome Cap surprises because of welcome performance surprises from our youngsters.
