There are two types of bonuses in NHL contracts -- signing bonuses and performance bonuses.
What are they, and how do they work? Do they count towards the cap? Let's take a look.
WHAT IS A SIGNING BONUS?
Signing bonuses are the only guaranteed money in a player's contract, and are paid out each July.
While the name may suggest that the money is given to the player up front after the player signs, they can be structured in a way that they're given for the duration of a contract. In the event of a lockout, or a buyout, full signing bonuses are still paid out.