Buyout Period (Jun 30)

With the signings yesterday, the other shoe was likely to drop and a buyout was likely to take place to help the cap situation for the Blue Jackets and indeed it happened, as Fedor Tyutin was indeed bought out of the last two years of his contract.  Tyutin had a no-movement clause, so he didn't need to spend any time on the waiver wire and the buyout was complete right away.

The buyout will last for four years against the cap, as his $4.5 million cap hit will be taken down to about $1.2 million, saving $3.3 million this season and about $2.4 million next season.  The cap hit in the final two years will be $1.458 million and then they will be clear of him.  Details here.

Last season, Tyutin had 1 goal and 3 points in 61 games for the Blue Jackets, making him into an easy option for the buyout.

There were a total of six players placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of the buyout and one of the headliners in that group was Boston defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, who had two years left on his deal, each carrying a cap hit of $4 million.  With this buyout, the Bruins will have his hit on the books for the next four seasons, will save a bit more than $2.8 million this season and $1.8 million next season, while a $1.2 million cap hit will weigh in for years three and four.

In the 2016 season, the 34-year old German only scored 1 goal and 12 points in 61 games with the Bruins, but should still have a good year or two left in him.  He should be an attractive pick-up this Summer.

A player taken in last season's draft, but didn't have a particularly good season, was Tampa Bay's Matt Carle, as the 31-year old defenseman only picked up 2 goals and 9 points in 64 games.  The last two years of his deal will be bought out on Friday, as he was one of the six placed on waivers on Thursday morning.  He has two years left on his deal and a cap hit of $5.5 million each.  The cap hit for all four years of his buyout comes in at $1.83 million, which means there is some significant savings in those first two seasons.

With the pending contract for Steven Stamkos on the horizon, the Lightning gain a little bit more flexibility to tinker with their lineup with this buyout.

Another notable defenseman was on waivers today, as Barret Jackman was notified of his impending buyout on Friday from the Nashville Predators.  His deal only had one year left on it and it carried a $2 million cap hit.  The cap hit for the two years of the buyout will only be $666,667, so there isn't a great deal of savings, but it does open up another roster spot for some of the Predators youth or a new free agent.

Jackman, not necessarily known for his offense, didn't really have any in 2016, scoring 1 goal and 5 points in 73 games.  He would be a steady add for some team that could use his physical, veteran presence.

The last major buyout of the period came in the afternoon on Thursday, as the Carolina Hurricanes officially bought out defenseman James Wisniewski, who had one year left on his deal at $5.5 million against the cap. A knee injury ended his season before the first game was even over, so he really didn't get to show off his wares at all in 2016. His knee injury must have been sufficiently healed, as the Hurricanes would not have been able to buy him out otherwise.

The Hurricanes will only save about $2 million this season and will carry a cap hit of $1 million next season.  His details are right here.  The Hurricanes are still $9.43 million away from the cap floor, heading into free agency tomorrow, so they will definitely be spenders, one would assume.