On Potential NHL buyouts …
Jared Clinton of The Hockey News: Reports have the San Jose Sharks buying out defenseman Paul Martin. Such a move would see the Sharks save $2.83 million in salary cap space this season. This could create even more space for the Sharks to go after free agents John Tavares and Ilya Kovalchuk.
Other potential buyout candidates include:
Troy Brouwer – Calgary Flames: Owed $4.5 million for the next two seasons. Tallied only 22 points in 76 games this past season. Could save the Flames $3 million a season on a buyout.
Braydon Coburn – Tampa Bay Lightning: Have just under $7 million in projected salary cap space (excluding whatever the cap rises too). They need to re-sign RFA J.T. Miller and could use an upgrade to their top-four. Could save almost $2.5 million in cap space this year, with a $1.23 million hit next season.
Tyler Ennis – Minnesota Wild: Recorded only 24 points in 74 games last season. A buyout would save the Wild $2.5 million his season but cost them $1.2 million in cap space next season.
Jori Lehtera – Philadelphia Flyers: Eight points in 62 games last season in 10 and a half minutes per game. A buyout would save them $3.33 million this season.
Brooks Orpik – Washington Capitals: Would save the Capitals $3 million in salary cap space which could go along way with pending free agents Tom Wilson, Jay Beagle, Devante Smith-Pelly, Michal Kempny and John Carlson.
Craig Hagerman of theScore: Looking at potential buyout candidates for each Western Conference team.
Chicago Blackhawks – Brandon Saad
Colorado Avalanche – Colin Wilson
Dallas Stars – Jason Spezza
Minnesota Wild – Tyler Ennis
Nashville Predators – Nick Bonino
St. Louis Blues – Vladimir Sobotka
Winnipeg Jets – Dmitry Kulikov
Anaheim Ducks – Corey Perry
Arizona Coyotes – Marcus Kruger
Calgary Flames – Troy Brouwer
Edmonton Oilers – Zack Kassian
Los Angeles Kings – Dion Phaneuf
San Jose Sharks – Paul Martin
Vancouver Canucks – Ben Hutton
Vegas Golden Knights – Tomas Tatar
Craig Hagerman of theScore: Looking at potential buyout candidates for each Eastern Conference team.
Carolina Hurricanes – Scott Darling
Columbus Blue Jackets – Brandon Dubinsky
New Jersey Devils – Travis Zajac
New York Islanders – Casey Cizikas
New York Rangers – Marc Staal
Philadelphia Flyers – Andrew MacDonald
Pittsburgh Penguins – Carl Hagelin
Boston Bruins – Adam McQuaid
Buffalo Sabres – Zach Bogosian
Detroit Red Wings – Darren Helm
Florida Panthers – Jamie McGinn
Montreal Canadiens – Karl Alzner
Ottawa Senators – Marian Gaborik
Tampa Bay Lightning – Dan Girardi
Toronto Maple Leafs – Matt Martin