Page 12 of The Tryout

“I think it’s a pipe dream, but in theory I could see a two-way contract.”

Pops looks at me, confused. I guess hockey contracts aren’t his specialty.

“That means I could play for both the NHL team and the AHL team. Then I get paid a pro-rated amount depending on which team I’m playing for.”

His eyebrows raise.

“It’s like…if an actor got paid as a series regular for episodes where they had a lot of lines, but as a recurring actor for the ones where they didn’t.”

He nods again, scribbling down something on the notepad.

“Wouldn’t they rather just be paid as a regular?” Dad asks, not unkindly.

“Sure, but it’s better than just being paid as recurring. Plus, you get to show what you’ve got, maybe land that recurring role next season.”

This clearly makes sense to him and he adds a few extra words in his nearly-illegible handwriting.

“Alright, so on this contract, what would you make if you spent the whole year as recurring?”

“There’s some room for negotiation, but about…$70,000?”

At his seat, Dad goes a little pale, taking a deep drink of his beer. I’m pretty sure the hand-knotted rug he’s been eyeing for the Laguna house is going to run about $70,000.

“And if you’re a regular?”

“$775,000.”

That perks Dad up a little.

“That’s…quite the difference.”

“Yeah. It’s a good incentive to be better.” He nods at that, scribbling down the two numbers.

“Ok, now the worst case.”

“I’m back here in a week signing up for an LSAT prep course.”

He chuckles at that, and I’m glad the joke landed.

“And the middle of the road – the most likely thing you’ll see?”

I’m not sure if it’s most likely – I’m a little afraid I already said the most likely scenario.

“AHL-only contract. One year. A chance to prove myself, probably at league minimum.”

“Which is…$70,000?”

I blush a bit.

“Um, no. $55,000.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I’m pretty sure I see Dad making the sign of the cross. Pops, on the other hand, is still scribbling. That’s not really a surprise. While Dad came from a fairly well-to-do family, Pops’ dad was a longshoreman and he paid his way through undergrad working on the docks.

“Okay, so the question here is what will an agent do for you? You said there’s some wiggle room – I’m assuming some of that comes from an agent’s ability to negotiate?”

I nod.

“So that $55,000 could go up to maybe…$70,000, let’s say?”