NHL Buyout Candidates – Metropolitan Division

With the Stanley Cup being awarded to the Colorado Avalanche, it’s a good time to look at the top NHL buyout candidates from the Metro Division.

The window for National Hockey League clubs to buyout players opens on July 1 and with the salary cap only going by $1 million to $82.5 million next season, most general managers may give serious consideration to opening up cap space to make improvements by finding a way to get rid of those not living up to their contracts.

Some clubs who will not be close to the cap limit may serve as drop zones for bad contracts or players on long-term injured reserve, but the majority of the clubs have one or two deals they might be looking to jettison.

We continue with NHL buyout candidates for the Metropolitan Division:

Columbus and Washington

The Blue Jackets are a budget team that has traditionally had a difficult time convincing core group players to stay around, and they face that dilemma once again with RFA Patrik Laine. Cap room is not an issue for GM Jarmo Kekalainen (more than $21 million), and Columbus has no obvious buyout candidates.

The Capitals have just under $9 million in cap space and most of their key players are under contract for multiple years, but the need for a buyout to open up cap space will likely be unnecessary with the news that veteran center Nicklas Backstrom underwent extensive hip surgery last month that could keep the 34-year-old on LTIR for next season and perhaps the rest of his career.

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Carolina

Jake Gardiner (1 year @ $4.05 million)

The former Leaf played only 26 games in 2021 and spent all of last season on LTIR after undergoing back surgery, but GM Don Waddell indicated after the Canes loss to New York in the second round that he has made a full recovery and is medically cleared. With Carolina needing to re-sign RFA Anthony DeAngelo after a 51-point campaign, they can clear almost $3 million in cap space by buying out the final year of Gardiner’s deal.

New Jersey

Tomas Tatar (1 year @ $4.5 million)

Although the Devils have more than $25 million in cap space to work with, they have been rumored to be interested in dealing for scoring forwards like Vancouver’s Brock Boeser, re-signing RFA Jesper Bratt, and will be out on the free-agent market looking for a goaltender. Tatar scored 15 goals in 76 games last season and with a buyout, New Jersey would open up $2.16 million in cap space.

NY Islanders

Kyle Palmieri (3 years @ $5 million)

GM Lou Lamoriello is hesitant to admit making mistakes, but signing Palmieri to a four-year, $20 million contract after a good playoff performance did not pay off for the Isles last season. The 31-year-old scored 15 goals in 69 games and with blueliners Scott Mayfield (RFA in 2023) and Noah Dobson needing new deals, New York could clear $3.33 million off the cap the next three seasons.

NY Rangers

Patrik Nemeth (2 years @ $2.5 million)

After getting to the Eastern Conference Final, the Rangers have seven unrestricted free agents (including Ryan Strome, Andrew Copp, and Frank Vatrano) and RFA’s Kaapo Kakko and Alexandar Georgiev to re-sign, with less than $12 million to do it. Nemeth played just five games in the playoffs after 63 regular-season games and with youngster Braden Schneider likely playing full-time next season, New York can save $1.5 million in 2023 and $2.5 million in 2024 by buying out the final two years of Nemeth’s deal.

Philadelphia

James van Riemsdyk (1 year @ $7 million)

The former second overall pick scored 24 goals last season, but the Flyers were unable to find any interest on the trade market before last year’s deadline and may have difficulty this summer unless they retain salary. A buyout would open up $2.6 million in cap space and Philadelphia is looking to quickly reset under new head coach John Tortorella.

Pittsburgh

Jason Zucker (1 year @ $5.5 million)

The Penguins were able to get pending UFA Bryan Rust signed to an extension, but have plenty of business yet to get done with future Hall-of-Famers Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin, forward Rickard Rakell, and Evan Rodrigues set to hit the open market. Zucker scored eight times in 41 games last season and Pittsburgh would open up $3.46 million buying out his final year.