(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon have awoken from their summer slumber to complete to transactions and pave the way for more in the future.
First, the Golden Knights traded David Clarkson’s contract and a 4th Round pick in 2020 for goalie Garret Sparks.
To my knowledge, the benefit of this is twofold:
1) VGK gets slightly more wiggle room in-season against the cap
2) Performance bonuses can be pushed to 2020-21 which would allow them to potentially give more to Engelland and allow Glass a spot on the roster. https://t.co/GDyTADaZH9— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) July 23, 2019
There is a George McPhee press conference coming soon (time still TBA) which should help clear up quite a bit of the confusion as the last McPhee said on Clarkson was this… https://t.co/9djqPSQ0zx
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) July 23, 2019
The difference between the Leafs and Golden Knights in regards to Clarkson is that TOR was already going to use LTIR (because of Nathan Horton). By moving him, VGK now will not. There are a few minimal drawbacks to using it that VGK now avoids. Didn't matter for TOR.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) July 23, 2019
The benefits for the Golden Knights are minimal as Vegas could have simply placed Clarkson on LTIR, but they do gain a bit of flexibility which they would not have had if they had kept Clarkson’s contract on the books.
The other move was re-signing Deryk Engelland to a one-year contract worth $700,000. The contract includes performance bonuses which could allow him to earn up to $1.5 million total.
(To our knowledge) Without moving Clarkson, those performance bonuses would have been counted against the Golden Knights salary cap whether Engelland reached them or not, but without Clarkson, and thus Vegas NOT using LTIR, they can be pushed to 2020-21 in the event he reaches them and the Golden Knights cannot afford them.
Next, how does this affect the elephant in the room?
As for how this effects Nikita Gusev, it can only help. VGK has created more cap flexibility by shedding Clarkson's LTIR contract and retained a roster player at the league minimum. Wouldn't say it helps much, but it certainly doesn't hurt.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) July 23, 2019
Finally, Garret Sparks is an AHL level goalie who has been in the Toronto system since 2013. In 2017-18 he was named the best goalie in the AHL as the Toronto Marlies went on to win the Calder Cup. He recorded the best save percentage in the league that season as well at .936.
Last season, Sparks stayed with the NHL club throughout. He played 20 games and posted a 3.15 GAA and a .902 SV%.
Sparks is on a one-way one-year contract worth $750,000.
DugMac
Need some clarification. Sparks is on a one way contract. I am assuming he will play in Chicago. Does he need to clear waivers to go there? Does he get paid his NHL salary while he is there?
That then begs the question of financial arrangements with a Chicago. Does Vegas own them? If not and they are paying player salaries, do they get revenue in some form?
Probably a complicated answer that might serve as a future article.
Ken Boehlke
Yes he needs to clear waivers. He gets paid NHL salary. They are “loaned” to Chicago. It’s not nearly as exciting as you think.
vgk2019
now get rid of Mr. playoff scratch, Mr. $2.2 mill albatross….HOLDEN
the hesitation in making such an obvious and necessary move is “holden” up the progress in signing Gusev.
and this all indicates that the comments by Gusev’s agent helped get the ball rolling with some action
Brent Thomson
What are the odd Sparks is an indication that Vegas is going to use a backup goalie as sweetener for a trade of a less desirable player?