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This is becoming standard fare within the Oilers organization. For example, Ryan Stanton’s splits are $700 / $300 / $400, meaning that last season he was paid $300 K for his AHL performance and what amounted to a $100 K bonus in lieu of actually earning NHL salary at any point. (He was recalled a couple of times on an emergency basis as a 7th defender but never saw any NHL action.)

The key number for salary cap purposes is the NHL figure, which kicks in only while the player is on the roster. What a player makes in the minors is essentially irrelevant, other than the organization needs to do what it takes to compete for tweeners.

In the case of Keegan Lowe, I would make the case that he was solid enough value a year ago. He had a strong season in Bakersfield, notching 14 points in 52 games while leading the club in plus/minus by a wide margin at +14. This on a team that allowed 20 more goals than it scored. Second best on the club was just +3.

His coach, Gerry Fleming, had consistent words of praise for Lowe throughout the season, such as these from a January feature in Bakersfield.com:

“You don’t notice it, but he does a lot of subtle things with and without the puck that unless you really, really focus on his game you wouldn’t notice. But that’s a good thing sometimes when you don’t notice a player like Keegan. He’s not going to wow you with his offensive prowess but he does get opportunities, he does get looks at the net. He’s a solid penalty killer, he blocks shots, competes, plays hard, boxes out and his gap control is outstanding.

“I’ve seen Keegan since his first years with Charlotte and the growth in his game from where he started to where he’s at now is night and day. He makes better reads, he moves the puck more, his puck handling skills have improved, his stick positioning is better. He’s more controlled in his game than when he first started, that’s for sure.”