Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleK
Half-assed? That's an awful take. The bonus structure was very creative and was designed to put pressure on an allegedly cash strapped team. Aho was willing to sign the offer sheet at a number that Montreal was willing to pay. At the end of the day nobody in the league would trade a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick for Aho.
The Habs signed Carolina's best player for them on a 2nd contract that gets him to UFA as fast as possible.
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There wasn't anything particularly creative about the bonus structure. They minimized the salary element to $700k per season and paid the rest out in signing bonuses. They followed the CBA rules to the letter for the maximum decrease allowable year over year and the rule that states that the last year cannot be more than 50% less than the maximum payment in any other individual year.
Where they half-assed it was that the AAV was pretty much in line with what was considered to be Aho's value anyway. Maybe even better. So, effectively, the Habs relieved Carolina of the burden of negotiating and got them to a number close to what they probably would have paid anyway. If they were serious about getting the player, they should have upped the ante and make Carolina think about it for more than 24 hrs
That Aho was willing to sign that offer sheet is perhaps an indication he's not that happy in Carolina.
Tom Dundon was willing to invest $250M in the AAF this winter. He probably has the cash around to pay Aho up front.
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