"....the real problem is how do you get the $1-million plugers to work hard...."
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It is, but I think the issue with motivation is NOT when someone who is unarguably better than you makes 13x (or 30x, for that matter) your salary, but when someone who is worse than you makes 6x your salary - and does it year after year for whatever silly reason they scored that type of contract in the first place.

McDavid won the scoring race by 11 points, I would not be surprised if he does it some years by 30+ points. Mcdavid's contract is not a problem. It is sitting down with that grinder, trying to justify a Scott Gomez deal...when you are offering the grinder a fraction of the Gomez contract..why?

As for relative motivation (leadership?), this year Crosby was about even on the goals/assists (44-45), McDavid was 30 - 70. McDavid makes other players better, Crosby is turning into a sniper....

In sales the top performers motivate by their very presence. Laggards making a lot, is the problem.