Under the terms of the CBA, teams can’t throw fabulous riches at unsigned free agents or prospects. The entry level system caps salaries at $925,000 per season. But the way teams can get around that is by utilizing performance bonuses.
Under general manager Brad Treliving, the Flames have signed 40 players to entry level deals. Here’s a quick gander at how he spent his money (and how he used bonuses).
F David Wolf – European free agent
One year, $867,500 cap hit, $57,500 performance bonus
If a free agent is highly pursued, the easiest thing for a team to do is bump up either the cap hit or the performance bonus.