King'sPawn
Enjoy the chaos
- Jul 1, 2003
- 23,197
- 24,113
The NHL is a business, but the player's aren't allowed to treat it as one? If LaDue turns pro this year, he will have to sign a 2-way ELC. He will get the max contract, so 925k in the NHL, 70k (or whatever) in the AHL. He will probably get in a handful of games, so he will probably make around 100k his first year pro (not including signing bonus, performance bonuses, etc.) If he stays at UND one more year, he will be 25, and will no longer be required to sign a 2-way contract. He will make his NHL salary no matter if he plays in the NHL or the AHL, that is a massive incentive just by waiting one more year in a place you really enjoy playing.
Will it be good for his development? Probably not as much as turning pro would be. Is it a good business decision from his standpoint? I don't know how someone could argue that it's not.
You keep assuming he will get a one way contract no matter what. He has done very little to prove he's worth a guaranteed one way contract. And if he makes a decision you admit isn't as good for his development, why would a GM commit to that?
Just because he CAN get a one way doesn't mean he will. Heck, Lombardi could have tried to negotiate a two way contract with Kopitar. Difference is, Kopitar has proven himself to be worth the one way contract.