Okay, so now that it's not 5:30 AM, let's talk bonuses. There are two different categories of bonuses, "A" bonuses and "B" bonuses. For each set there is a maximum amount of money that can be assigned to that category (total) and also a maximum amount that can go for each item in that category (for "A" bonuses).
So for "A" bonuses, the total amount cannot exceed $850k. Furthermore, there cannot be more than $212.5k assigned to any specific item (that is to say, while a player may earn up to $850k in "A" bonuses, he cannot earn more than $212.5k in bonuses for the number of goals he scores). There are 10 different things for which a defenseman can earn "A" bonuses. Note that we do not know what the specific requirements were for Dahlin, but there are minimum standards that are required for the various items so we can know whether or not Dahlin would be eligible to earn a bonus under that item.
i) Ice time. A player must be in the top 4 in ice time on his team to qualify (a player may receive bonuses both for total ice time and ice time per game, but they cannot total more than $212.5k). In Dahlin's case, he was either third or fourth on the team in average ice time (it is unclear whether or not Montour qualifies, I'd assume he doesn't) and second in total ice time. So Dahlin could receive a bonus based on his ice time.
ii) Goals. A defenseman must score at least 10 goals to be eligible for a bonus here. Dahlin does not qualify.
iii) Assists. A minimum of 25 is required here, which Dahlin meets. I'll note here that while 25 is the minimum number of assists that a player can receive a bonus for, that is not necessarily what Dahlin's bonus is for. Also, while he could hit a bonus for 25 assists, he could also receive a further bonus for a higher number, so long as those bonuses do not total more than $212.5k.
iv) Points. 40 points are the minimum for bonus eligibility here, so Dahlin could also receive bonuses in this category.
v) Points per game. .49 points per game is the minimum qualification here, so Dahlin again qualifies.
vi) Plus-Minus. The player must be among the top three defensemen on the team in that category. Considering game played requirements, it looks like Dahlin is tied for third here, which means he should be eligible.
vii) Blocked shots. The player must be among the top two defensemen on the team to qualify. Dahlin is 5th here, so does not qualify.
viii) Making the NHL All-Rookie Team. We do not have the results here yet, but it seems a given that Dahlin will make it, so he will be eligible here.
ix) Selected for the NHL All-Star Game. This did not happen. Dahlin is not eligible for bonuses here.
x) All-Star Game MVP. Likewise, it's hard to be the All-Star MVP when you aren't selected in the first place.
So what we have learned so far is pretty much nothing. There are numerous bonuses that Dahlin hypothetically is eligible for, but we have no idea what was actually written into his contract. We only know there are a few things that Dahlin could not have gotten bonuses for as he did not meet the minimum requirements to be eligible for a bonus there, but we do not know how many, if any, of those were things for which he had a bonus in his contract.
On to "B" bonuses. "B" bonuses are based on league awards or league-wide achievements. While the League itself gives out bonuses for these items, teams are likewise able to give their own bonuses beyond what the League provides, noting that there are some areas where the league may grant a bonus but the team cannot, and also provided that the team cannot assign more than $2M in potential "B" bonuses in a season.
The team can give bonuses for the following awards: Hart, Richard, Vezina, Jennings, Norris, Conn Smythe, Selke. That's it. While the league gives out bonuses for a few other awards (such as the Byng and Calder, or being a First or Second Team All-Star), teams cannot. So Dahlin is not eligible for any "B" bonuses from the Sabres due to being a Calder finalist.
Furthermore, defensemen can earn bonuses for being top-1o in the league (among defensemen) in the following categories: Goals, Assists, Points, Ice Time, Points Per Game. Dahlin was tied for 29th in goals, tied for 21st in assists, tied for 21st in points, 70th in Ice Time per game, 38th in aggregate Ice Time and tied for 29th in points per game. So he does not qualify for any bonuses either from the League or from the Sabres here.
So, to sum everything up, while Dahlin may have met any or all of the "A" bonuses negotiated between himself and the team, it appears he did not meet any of the "B" bonuses. While he will receive a bonus from the league based on his Calder finish, he will not receive any bonus from the Sabres for doing so. The maximum amount in bonuses that Dahlin could have met this season is $850k.
I could be wrong though.
