UPDATE 11:45 PM 6/30/2014
Toronto Maple Leafs: Tim Gleason (*Regular Buyout*)
After being traded from the Carolina Hurricanes on January 1st, 31 year-old defenseman played in 39 games for the Leafs, scoring 1 goal and 4 assists and going -14. For a third-pair defenseman, he is way too expensive to keep, as he has two years remaining on his contract and a cap hit of $4 million. A team that has struggled over the past decade like the Leafs needs the salary cap space to help attract better free agents to join the team this offseason.
Calgary Flames: Shane O’Brien
The 30 year-old defenseman only appeared in 45 games this past season with the Calgary Flames, only putting up 3 assists and a plus/minus rating of -8, and he was sent down to the AHL towards the end of the year. With one year remaining on his contract and a cap hit of $2.2 million, the Flames are better off spending that money on free agents and prospects that would help the team start trending in the right direction again. As for O’Brien, he will still likely receive interest from other teams as a reliable third pair defenseman.
UPDATE 3:30 PM 6/30/2014
New Jersey Devils: Anton Volchenkov
Over the past three years, all Volchenkov has been for the New Jersey Devils is a big hitter and a shot blocker, and that’s about it. His defensive play has been lackluster, and he has never really contributed much offensively. Furthermore, Volchenkov’s 2013-2014 season was limited to 56 games due to injuries, and it is clear that his career is on the decline. With two seasons left on his contract, he is certainly not worth the $4.125 million cap hit he carries, and this buy out is long overdue.
Florida Panthers: Ed Jovanovski
After being limited to just 43 games over the past 2 seasons due to major hip surgery, it is only plausible that the Ed Jovanovski is bought out by the Panthers. With the new ownership allowing Dale Tallon to spend to the salary cap, the buy out frees up another $4.125 million in cap space to spend this offseason, as Jovanovski only has one year remaining on his contract. Despite the fact that “Jovo” was the team’s captain and was a solid defenseman before he got injured, his career has been on the decline for the past few years, and the Panthers needed to let him go if they want to continue their upward trend.
Buffalo Sabres: Christian Ehrhoff
Despite the fact that Ehrhoff has had solid seasons the past 3 years with the club, this move was purely to free the organization of Ehrhoff’s heavily front-loaded contract, which has given Sabres management headaches with any attempts at dealing the defenseman and with potential repercussions from the NHL. He had seven years remaining on his contract with an average cap hit of $4 million per season, yet was paid $10 million in 2011-2012 and $8 million in 2012-2013. Otherwise, the 32 year-old led Sabres defensemen in points this year with 6 goals and 27 assists in 79 games. There is no doubt that Ehrhoff will be an attractive option for a team looking for a good first or second pair defenseman starting July 1st. Meanwhile, with the extra cap space, the Sabres can make a splash in the free agent pool and/or bring up younger prospects as part of their rebuilding process.
UPDATE 11:15 PM 6/28/2014
San Jose Sharks: Martin Havlat
Havlat’s last three seasons, his only three with the Sharks, have each been cut short by various injuries. In only 48 games in the 2013-2014 season, Havlat scored just 12 goals and added 10 assists. With one year remaining on his contract and a cap hit of $5 million, he is simply too much of a risk to keep, especially with him being out of the lineup so often. Furthermore, the Sharks are also in the process of a slight rebuild, so look for them to be actively making moves this offseason and bringing up young talent within the organization. Meanwhile, Havlat is still a solid point producer, and he will still be an attractive option to sign short term and for cheaper value come July 1st.
UPDATE: 12:45 PM 6/25/2014
Tampa Bay Lightning: Ryan Malone
On top of the fact that Malone only had 11 goals and 12 assists in 81 games over the past 2 seasons, he is also currently being brought up on cocaine and DUI charges. Furthermore, his last 4 seasons have all been cut short by injury, which certainly contributes to how unreliable of a player he has become. Although he only had one year left on his contract with a salary of $2.5 million, he is not even worth that much money anymore, especially with all of the uncertainty about his future and lack of productivity. This move at least frees up some cap space for the Lightning to sign free agents this summer.
UPDATE: 2:15 PM 6/20/2014
New York Rangers: Brad Richards
Although the 34 year-old had a somewhat decent regular season with 20 goals and 31 assists in all 82 games, his production once again declined when it mattered come playoff time, scoring only 5 goals and 7 assists in 25 playoff games, to the point where he was placed on the 4th line for Games 4 and 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. With 6 years remaining on his contract and a cap hit of $6.67 million, the Rangers are paying Richards for the player he used to be. Brad Richards never really found his niche with the Rangers, and he is no longer a guy who can put up 70+ points. Despite this, Richards will still be a very attractive option for teams looking for a first or second-line center this offseason.
UPDATE: 3:30 PM 6/18/2014
Detroit Red Wings: Jordin Tootoo
The 31 year-old forward spent a majority of the season in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, playing only 11 games with the Wings in a fourth-line role. With one year remaining on his contract and a $2 million cap hit, it is only plausible that Jordin Tootoo goes. While he is not needed in the Wings line-up, Tootoo can still play as a fourth liner on an NHL team, so look for him to be signed this offseason at a much cheaper salary.
Dallas Stars: Aaron Rome
With one year remaining on his 3-year, $4.5 million contract, the 30 year-old defenseman simply took up a spot on the roster this past season. He only played in 25 regular season games, contributing just 1 assist with a minus 6 rating. He was also in the line-up for just one of the Stars’ first round series playoff games. For a team on the rise like the Dallas Stars, Aaron Rome was simply extra baggage that needed to be unloaded.
Vancouver Canucks: David Booth
After several seasons plagued by injury and underperformance, David Booth never quite panned out the way the Canucks hoped he would. With one season left on his contract and a salary of $4.75 million, Vancouver would be spending way too much money on a player who has only produced 10 goals and 12 assists in 78 games over the past 2 seasons. Furthermore, with his history of injuries, keeping David Booth would be a high-risk, low reward ordeal, and he is simply not worth the roster spot.
Buffalo Sabres: Ville Leino
Coming off of a season in which he had no goals and only 15 assists in 58 games, there is simply no use for the 30 year-old forward on the team. With three years left on his contract and an average annual value of $4.5 million per season, there is no way the Sabres can afford to keep Leino. For a club going through a rebuild like the Sabres, it is more important to spend this money on younger prospects that will help the organization in the long run.
Image Courtesy of NHL.com
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