Has Auston Matthews signed in Switzerland? Yes, yes he has

[DragonfromTO]

Risky move, IMO.

IF he completely tanks playing in a pretty damn good league does he drop dramatically in draft rankings?

Is he more prone to getting seriously hurt playing against grown men?

Does moving, and adjusting, to the bigger ice surface slow his development?

Time will tell I guess.

The kid must have confidence if he thinks he's going to go over there and put up points.

It's a chance that plenty of European kids have already taken though, it's not unprecedented. Jumping across the Atlantic to do it isn't unprecedented either, don't you remember Bonk, Samsonov and Stefan tearing up the IHL?

As far as him putting up points, the Swiss league is good, but it's generally thought of as about 5th or 6th best over there (I havent seen the IIHF rankings but youve got KHL, Sweden, Finland, Czech and maybe Slovakia ahead of them). Plus I don't know that a team (especially a competitive one like SC Bern) would use an import spot on a guy that's gonna be a 4th liner.

 

[forty_three]

Risky move, IMO.

IF he completely tanks playing in a pretty damn good league does he drop dramatically in draft rankings?

Is he more prone to getting seriously hurt playing against grown men?

Does moving, and adjusting, to the bigger ice surface slow his development?

Time will tell I guess.

The kid must have confidence if he thinks he's going to go over there and put up points.

Again, if I was a highly rated prospect, do I really care where I'm drafted? Hell, I might try to purposely hurt my draft stock. Scream about crayons in interviews or answer "My ouija board says no" to every question on the wonderlick test. Anything to stay out of Edmonton's grasp.

I would think playing on the bigger ice will help his creativity. And might shield him from injury because there is more room to escape. A risk, yes. But I think it's a good one.

Marko Dano played against men before he was drafted and it helped him. He adapted very well to the pro game, so much so that Chicago apparently asked for him to start the Saad trade talks.

 

[forty_three]

And...

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Again, if I was a highly rated prospect, do I really care where I'm drafted? Hell, I might try to purposely hurt my draft stock. Scream about crayons in interviews or answer "My ouija board says no" to every question on the wonderlick test. Anything to stay out of Edmonton's grasp.

I would think playing on the bigger ice will help his creativity. And might shield him from injury because there is more room to escape. A risk, yes. But I think it's a good one.

Marko Dano played against men before he was drafted and it helped him. He adapted very well to the pro game, so much so that Chicago apparently asked for him to start the Saad trade talks.

If that prospect has any sense he'd care. ELCs are basically predicated on draft position. Granted the top 10 or so get pretty much the same but once you drop from there you're leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table in your first 3 years as an NHLer.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

It's a chance that plenty of European kids have already taken though, it's not unprecedented. Jumping across the Atlantic to do it isn't unprecedented either, don't you remember Bonk, Samsonov and Stefan tearing up the IHL?

As far as him putting up points, the Swiss league is good, but it's generally thought of as about 5th or 6th best over there (I havent seen the IIHF rankings but youve got KHL, Sweden, Finland, Czech and maybe Slovakia ahead of them). Plus I don't know that a team (especially a competitive one like SC Bern) would use an import spot on a guy that's gonna be a 4th liner.

And they all went on to become franchise players.

I get your point though.

As far leagues go I'd put the SHL and KHL ahead of the Swiss. Probably also the Finnish league but that's it.

 

[Cobiemonster]

If that prospect has any sense he'd care. ELCs are basically predicated on draft position. Granted the top 10 or so get pretty much the same but once you drop from there you're leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table in your first 3 years as an NHLer.

I get 43's point and the fact that there can be pressure on a young player who gets drafted high, but the $ is a lot better and that's the most important thing for a player when it's all set and done

 

[forty_three]

I get 43's point and the fact that there can be pressure on a young player who gets drafted high, but the $ is a lot better and that's the most important thing for a player when it's all set and done

It's more than the pressure. If you are a legit player who can enter the NHL at 18 or 19, would you rather become a player on a struggling team to spend those 3 years or go to a moderately good one?

RNH was first overall his year. Dougie Hamilton was 9th overall. Which one would you rather be right now in regards to long term success potential?

RNH ELC paid him 832K per.
Dougie got 832 also.
Interestingly enough, Brandon Saad got 832 as well, and he went 43rd overall. Do you think he'd trade places the last few years or his situation now with RNH? Would Dougie?

I'm betting no.

 

[DragonfromTO]

It's more than the pressure. If you are a legit player who can enter the NHL at 18 or 19, would you rather become a player on a struggling team to spend those 3 years or go to a moderately good one?

RNH was first overall his year. Dougie Hamilton was 9th overall. Which one would you rather be right now in regards to long term success potential?

RNH ELC paid him 832K per.
Dougie got 832 also.
Interestingly enough, Brandon Saad got 832 as well, and he went 43rd overall. Do you think he'd trade places the last few years or his situation now with RNH? Would Dougie?

I'm betting no.

You're only looking at salary though. Entry level contracts can (and do) also have bonuses.

 

[forty_three]

You're only looking at salary though. Entry level contracts can (and do) also have bonuses.

True, but who of the three was in the best position to make said bonuses?

My boss could offer me a bonus of triple my salary, and if there is no earthly way to hit it, does it matter?

 

[DragonfromTO]

True, but who of the three was in the best position to make said bonuses?

My boss could offer me a bonus of triple my salary, and if there is no earthly way to hit it, does it matter?

Well, unless I'm reading it wrong it looks like including bonuses Nugent Hopkins made more on his ELC than both Hamilton and Saad combined.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Well, unless I'm reading it wrong it looks like including bonuses Nugent Hopkins made more on his ELC than both Hamilton and Saad combined.

Hell, you know what? You can add Couturier to that and make it a threesome and they're still only $50k a year ahead of Nugent-Hopkins looking at their ELCs.

 

[Cobiemonster]

It's more than the pressure. If you are a legit player who can enter the NHL at 18 or 19, would you rather become a player on a struggling team to spend those 3 years or go to a moderately good one?

RNH was first overall his year. Dougie Hamilton was 9th overall. Which one would you rather be right now in regards to long term success potential?

RNH ELC paid him 832K per.
Dougie got 832 also.
Interestingly enough, Brandon Saad got 832 as well, and he went 43rd overall. Do you think he'd trade places the last few years or his situation now with RNH? Would Dougie?

I'm betting no.

It depends on the team and the situation - but Dougie and Brandon Saad weren't on the pedestal RNH was at and I don't think those guys would have performed any better than RNH in Edmonton at the same points in their careers - Brandon Saad didn't come in right away like RNH did and because of that, RNH can get more money immediately

 

[Cobiemonster]

Hell, you know what? You can add Couturier to that and make it a threesome and they're still only $50k a year ahead of Nugent-Hopkins.

This too

Dougie Hamilton and Brandon Saad didn't make the bonuses that RNH did because they were on better teams so they didn't necessarily get the playing time as much right away - yes those two were on winning teams and winning is very important, but if we're talking from a personal standpoint and $, it's not a bad thing for someone like RNH to step in right away on a team like Edmonton because he can get his bonus money right away because of more playing time

 

[DragonfromTO]

This too

Dougie Hamilton and Brandon Saad didn't make the bonuses that RNH did because they were on better teams so they didn't necessarily get the playing time as much right away - yes those two were on winning teams and winning is very important, but if we're talking from a personal standpoint and $, it's not a bad thing for someone like RNH to step in right away on a team like Edmonton because he can get his bonus money right away because of more playing time

It's not just because they didn't get the playing time, it's because not all players have the same bonus thresholds and amounts in the first place. Brandon Saad could have scored 200 points a year and he still wouldn't have made as much on his ELC as Nugent-Hopkins did.

 

[dash]

John Shannon @JSportsnet
Hearing Auston Matthews is to receive 400K to play in Switzerland.

That sure beats $50 a week in the Dub.

 

[Cobiemonster]

It's not just because they didn't get the playing time, it's because not all players have the same bonus thresholds and amounts in the first place. Brandon Saad could have scored 200 points a year and he still wouldn't have made as much on his ELC as Nugent-Hopkins did.

Yep draft position is key because the higher a player is picked, the more incentives they want in their contract and the more willing teams are to give players those incentives because of draft spot

 

[DragonfromTO]

Yep draft position is key because the higher a player is picked, the more incentives they want in their contract and the more willing teams are to give players those incentives because of draft spot

I also need to correct myself, as it seems like while the amounts aren't the same in every contract across the league, the thresholds that you can award them for are I believe.

 

[DragonfromTO]

John Shannon @JSportsnet
Hearing Auston Matthews is to receive 400K to play in Switzerland.

That sure beats $50 a week in the Dub.

A good Canadian kid would never spit in the face of the WHL like that!

 

[forty_three]

Well, unless I'm reading it wrong it looks like including bonuses Nugent Hopkins made more on his ELC than both Hamilton and Saad combined.

Congrats to RNH and his bank account.

I guess I am looking at it based on what motivates me. And money isn't it. That's all I am saying. Long term prospects for a fulfilling career would be much more important. And given the choice by year 3 between having my girlfriend's dog drink out of the cup and getting paid better in the short term to sit in a dumpster fire...

And that was just one draft year. If I was Teuvu Teravainen or Olli Maata, no way I'd trade places with Yak. Is Erik Johnson better off than Claude Giroux? I'd probably rather be in Tarasenko's shoes than Taylor Hall's also.

Nothing against the guys chasing money. But I'd be looking for more.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Congrats to RNH and his bank account.

I guess I am looking at it based on what motivates me. And money isn't it. That's all I am saying. Long term prospects for a fulfilling career would be much more important. And given the choice by year 3 between having my girlfriend's dog drink out of the cup and getting paid better in the short term to sit in a dumpster fire...

And that was just one draft year. If I was Teuvu Teravainen or Olli Maata, no way I'd trade places with Yak. Is Erik Johnson better off than Claude Giroux? I'd probably rather be in Tarasenko's shoes than Taylor Hall's also.

Nothing against the guys chasing money. But I'd be looking for more.

All this is pretty anecdotal though 43. I can find lots of top 3 picks that have won multiple cups.

And in cases like RNH, he's 22 years old. He still has a year or two win a cup in Edmonton or otherwise.

For example would you rather be Patrick Kane or a guy whose draft stock plummeted in his draft like Angelo Esposito? I mean Kane has won multiple..... ohhh right.

Nevermind.