The Carolina Hurricanes bought out the final year of defenseman James Wisniewski's contract, the team announced Thursday.

The 32-year-old was owed $3 million for the 2016-17 season, but he will now be paid $2 million over the next two seasons, according to CapFriendly. The buyout will save the Hurricanes $2 million in cap space next season.

After being acquired in a trade last offseason, Wisniewski played just one game for the Hurricanes - tearing his ACL during the first period of the team's season opener in October.

The right-handed blue-liner is just two years removed from setting a career-high 51 points during the 2013-14 season as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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