Pietrangelo Maxes Out in Bonus Money
Alex Pietrangelo’s impressive first full NHL season is paying off in a big way as the talented D-man maxed out his A-level performance bonuses.
The are several categories a D-man can earn team bonuses including goals (10), assists (25), points (40), ice time (among top 4 on team), +/- (top 3 on team among D-men), blocked shots (among top 2 D-men on team), points per game (0.49 points per game).
An entry level player can negotiate these max bonuses before they sign their entry level deal and are awarded for their success on the ice. Pietrangelo took home $850,000 in bonus money in addition to his $875,000 playing salary. A high draft pick like Pietrangelo, who was drafted 4th overall back in 2008, is allowed to be paid bonuses for up to four categories at $212,500 per bonus. The King City, Ontario native reached bonuses for goals scored, assists, points, as well as ice time. He could have received bonuses for other categories but in a max bonus deal you can only be paid up to $850,000.
Pietrangelo completed the year with 11 goals, 32 assists, 43 points, with a plus-18, leading all Blues D-men in each category. He also led the team with 121 blocks. His 22:00 minute per game average was the third most among Blues D-men behind Eric Brewer and Erik Johnson who were both traded before the deadline.
There are rookie bonuses that Pietrangelo does not qualify for even though he just finished the first year of his entry level deal. He had played 17 career NHL games coming into the season over the two previous years which eliminates him from being named to the All-Rookie team or receiving Calder Trophy consideration.
To be eligible for the Calder, a player cannot have played more than 25 games in any previous season or in six or more games in any two previous seasons. There are also age restrictions that don’t come into play here. Pietrangelo played in eight games in 2008-2009 and nine last season before being sent back to the OHL.
Habs D-man PK Subban as well as Caps D-man John Carlson both are considered NHL rookies. Coming into this season Subban had two NHL regular season games and 14 playoff games on his resume. Carlson on the other hand played 22 regular season games and seven in the playoffs last season.
It’s a relatively goofy rule but I got over it a long time ago. I can understand why it does bother some people to the extent that it does. On the surface it makes little sense.
Pietrangelo is now focused on representing Canada at the upcoming World Championships in Slovakia. Hockey Canada will stop in Paris, France for a few days to hold a training camp. I love how hockey Canada allows heir players to bring over a family member as Pietrangelo’s dad is coming along for the trip. No one can ever accuse Canada of not doing it right when it comes to how they handle their players and families.
Shattenkirk, Berglund, take home bonus money as well.
Blues D-man Kevin Shattenkirk and forwards Patrik Berglund each reached certain performance bonuses as well although not to the extent of Pietrangelo.
Both Shattenkirk and Berglund walk away with $425,000 in bonus money, the maximum negotiated in each of their contracts. Berglund reached bonuses for goals scored and ice time.
Shattenkirk on the other hand would have maxed out in the same fashion as Pietrangelo but can only be paid for two “A” bonuses as negotiated in his contract. These are the subtle differences between going fourth in the draft and 14th where Shattenkirk was selected.
The Blues are extremely excited about having a kid like Shattenkirk in their organization. He’s a great kid who has a bright future with this hockey club. His leadership skills have gone under the radar but will be talked about more once he gets a full season under his belt with the Blues. He’s a former Captain with the U-18 national team, the U-20 World Junior team, as well as the Captain of Boston University. The 22 year old has enrolled in summer classes at BU were he hopes to complete a degree in Business.
Each of these bonuses are paid out by the team.
More to come,
Andy Strickland
Strickland.andy@gmail.com
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Shattenkirk may very well be the best part of the Johnson deal. I'm loving Chris Stewart but if Shattenkirk can develop at half the rate he has over his first full season, this kid could be better than any other defenseman we've seen since MacInnis. Him and Petro on the back line would be a pretty ominous pairing for any opposing goaltender in the league!
Goes to show how much of a difference a year can make with the young guys...can't wait to see everyone else's progression 365 days from now.
The second season it had Andy Murray's hands all over it. His first defensive pairing I think was with Cola and he looked really strong out there. But then Murray started pairing him with Brewer. Through Brewer's lack of leadership and possible fear of being supplanted by a youngster he wasn't helpful and said so in an interview I believe. That and Murray's impatience and fears of young players. Never forget the only year the club made the play offs under Murray he was forced to play the youngsters more and more because of injuries. I was irate when Petro was sent down.
But that time with the big club, going to the WJC as a leader and being traded to a winning junior club I think helped him a lot. SO in the end maybe it was better for him but you could tell the kid had poise and vision but just lacked a bit of strength his first two seasons; But not by much!
EJ finally has the edge, the competitor's need to prove something after being traded. Petro developed over two seasons going back to junior where in Niagra his coach questioned why the kid wasn't in the NHL. Petro heard a lot of that but all we heard from him and saw from him were determination.
Johnson I believe was hurt by three things occurring during his time here:
1) out of the colleges or places he chose to play after being drafted he chose Minnesota where there have been questions about player development there the past couple of years. He would have done better to play juniors or go away from home.
2)Andy Murray kept pushing him to change his style and many times you could see the hesitation in his play and sometimes in close up shots by the camera in his face.(Compare it to what you saw in the Olympics from him). Also Rick Wamsley who constantly dogged him at practices.
3)The golf cart injury.
3B) I almost forgot this one. Getting used to playing with mediocre defensive partners and crap veteran leadership. One of his biggest problems and one I still him making in COlorado has to do with his transition game. He takes too long with the puck, doesn't trust his defensive partners and tries to do too much on his own. This I think was also partly ANdy Murray's fault for blame of trying to dish the puck and the heat and responsibility of the forechecker(see past P-D articles), or being blamed for his partner's errors.
When he does rush the puck from end to end and finally trusts in himself you will one day see him make Bobby Orr-like plays. He has a strong shot but his delivery is too long. WHen he relearns to use his teammates and create open ice and move into at the right times(particularly on power plays), and play more with an edge we will see what we traded and still we'll say we robbed Colorado because we received two top level players for one and a half.
Jackman Petro
Cole Shattenkirk
Nikitan Polak
The only problem is that this leaves them with no depth should injuries occur, and with the way guys get hurt blocking shots in the current game, they will definitely have some injuries. It sucks because Cole and Nikitan both appear to be ready to be full time players, but neither may be ready for top 4 ice time yet.
It might be young depth but we'll have depth at D next season. I don't mind young depth. But how do you tell Cole he needs another season in the AHL after the way he developed this season, getting better with each recall and game? So either the Blues will be trading from this young depth or relying on it. I'd go for relying on it. Or maybe we could look to Atlanta for a trade and maybe swap of picks and players for a d-man I think is still coming around in the NHL and should begin to have a break out season but might also need a move a la Erik Johnson. That player would be Zach Bogosian who I thought was the best player in the draft that year but has not panned out as of yet.
2008 Might have been the best draft in Blues history. Many of the players have made it to the pro level and a number have already played in the NHL. The small d-man I keep forgetting his name, David Worfsky. Kristoffer Berglund who has great numbers in the Swedish Elite league. Ian Schulzt who helped land us Halak. Livingstone who I think can be a very effective checking forward. Nigro who has some decent hands and had a decent first year in Peoria. Petro, McRae and Jake Allen were our tops picks and they are all coming along fine. flag this comment
Jackman Petro
Cole Shattenkirk
Nikitan Polak
The only problem is that this leaves them with no depth should injuries occur, and with the way guys get hurt blocking shots in the current game, they will definitely have some injuries. It sucks because Cole and Nikitan both appear to be ready to be full time players, but neither may be ready for top 4 ice time yet.
Think cole is the odd man out and spends another year in the AHL. Next year they will have more flexability on D. flag this comment