Bondra to Thrashers

Maybe I don't understand this, but the reports are indicating that Peter Bondra has signed a one year deal with the Thrashers for around $505k with loads of incentives packed into the contract.
The bit that I didn't get at first is that I didn't think it was permissible under the new CBA to offer performance bonuses to anyone other than rookies and guys returning from extended (longer than one season) injury. However, there is a provision for guys older than 35 who sign one year deals

Although The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting it, none of the hockey sites have picked it up just yet. In total, there are allegedly $2.5M worth of incentives in the contract. Although those incentives aren't known, it's believed that winning the Cup is one of them, and there are a few others that are not likely to be reached.

With the Ilya Kovalchuk situation being as muddy as it is, this will be excellent "insurance" against his possible absence, even though the club flatly denies such a notion. There is apparently an eye-popping, jaw-dropping offer on the table to Kovalchuk, but he is leaning towards staying in Russia where he and Pavel Datsyuk will be able to get very big mafia-backed tax-free paychecks.

I'm still scratching my head about why Bondra is still available.

Camp opens today for many teams, including my Hurricanes. I can't wait to see what happens. More info as it comes.