The NHL's silly season is right around the corner.
With teams on the brink of the annual tradition of overpaying in free agency, so too approaches the buyout window, in which some clubs will look to rid themselves of past contract blunders.
Here's a look at each team's most likely candidate to be bought out over the next month.
Click here for Eastern Conference candidates
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks: Brandon Saad
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 35 | $6M (2020-21) | $361 111 |
Blackhawks fans might call for the head of Brent Seabrook, but the fact is he'd still be owed between $3.3 million and $6.8 million to not play for the team. As for Saad, buying him out would allow them to nearly wipe out his entire contract.
For a team strapped for cash it makes the most sense, the question is will Stan Bowman be willing to buy out a player he gave Artemi Panarin up for just one year ago?
Colorado Avalanche: Colin Wilson
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 18 | $3 937 500 (2018-19) | $1 270 833 |
Wilson has not been able to replicate his 2015 success where he potted 20 goals and 42 points with the Nashville Predators. The Avalanche are on the up swing and in order to further progress they might be better off spending their money on someone more reliable.
Dallas Stars: Jason Spezza
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 26 | $7.5M (2018-19) | $2.5M |
After putting up a respectable 50 points in 2017, Spezza saw his production nearly slashed in half with 26 points in 10 more games. Spezza was made a healthy scratch on several occasions, so things could be done for him in Dallas.
Minnesota Wild: Tyler Ennis
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 22 | $4.6M (2018-19) | $2 166 667 |
Making $4.6 million, Ennis was still made a healthy scratch down the stretch and for four of the Wild's five playoff games. Over the last three seasons he's scored just 16 goals in 147 games. Enough said.
Nashville Predators: Nick Bonino
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 25 | $4.1M (2020-21) | $1 177 778 |
The likelihood of the Predators buying out anyone is low, but if they are to buy out someone, Bonino makes the most sense. Bonino is a third- or fourth-line center making over $4 million and just put up his lowest point total in six years.
St. Louis Blues: Vladimir Sobotka
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 31 | $3.5M (2019-20) | $1 083 333 |
The Blues may have just brought Sobotka back from the KHL, but Doug Armstrong has gone on record saying that he's going to be active in free agency and the trade market in the hopes of bolstering the team's forward core. If that's the case, cap space and roster space up front will be needed and Sobotka makes the most sense to go.
Winnipeg Jets: Dmitry Kulikov
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 11 | $4 333 333 (2019-20) | $1 444 444 |
Paying over $4 million for a bottom-pairing defenseman just doesn't make sense. With Jacob Trouba, Connor Hellebuyck, and Josh Morrissey among the team's nine pending RFAs, the club could use some extra cash.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks: Corey Perry
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 49 | $8.625M (2020-21) | $4 180 556 |
Perry's days as a dependable 30-goal scorer appear to be in the rear-view mirror. What's more, he's struggled come playoff time the last couple seasons and at $8.625 million it might be worth turning the page on Perry. His buyout would see him get paid for six years but for four of those he'll be owed just over $2 million.
Arizona Coyotes: Marcus Kruger
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 6 | $3 083 333 (2018-19) | $1.55M |
Kruger doesn't necessarily break the bank for the Coyotes, but with just one goal in 48 games last season with the Carolina Hurricanes (a more skilled team), Arizona might be better off ridding itself of his contract and spending the money elsewhere.
Calgary Flames: Troy Brouwer
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 22 | $4.5M (2019-20) | $1.5M |
Brouwer gets paid the fourth-most among Flames forwards, but this past season finished ninth among them with just six goals. A buyout would save the team $3 million this season, which would certainly go a long way.
Edmonton Oilers: Zack Kassian
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 19 | $1.95M (2019-20) | $616 667 |
As is the growing trend among buyout cases, Milan Lucic might seem like the best candidate, but the Oilers would still have to pay him between $3.2 million and $5.7 million for the next five years.
Kassian on the other hand averages the least amount of ice time among all regular forwards and his production reflects that.
Los Angeles Kings: Dion Phaneuf
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 26 | $5.25M (2020-21) | $2 291 667 |
Phaneuf had a decent stint in L.A. after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators, but for a team that needs to free-up money in an attempt to bolster its offense, Phaneuf might have to serve as a scapegoat.
San Jose Sharks: Paul Martin
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 2 | $4.85M (2018-19) | $2 016 667 |
The Athletic's Kevin Kurz reported on Saturday that there is a "strong possibility" that Martin gets bought out. After spending time between the main club and in the AHL last season and the potential to save just shy of $3 million in 2018-19, it certainly makes sense.
Vancouver Canucks: Ben Hutton
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 6 | $2.8M (2018-19) | $800K |
Loui Eriksson is the contract the team should try to get off the books, but with it so heavily weighted in signing bonuses, it doesn't make sense for the club. Meanwhile, Hutton's production has declined over the last two seasons, and didn't even manage to score a goal this past campaign.
Vegas Golden Knights: Tomas Tatar
| Age | 2017-18 Points | Cap Hit (through) | 18-19 Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 34 | $5.3M (2020-21) | $1 377 778 |
The Golden Knights paid a ton to acquire Tatar at the deadline, but after under-performing and serving as a healthy scratch mostly during the playoffs, it might be in the team's interest to free-up more cap space to do some big-game hunting in free agency or via trade. Cough ... cough ... Erik Karlsson.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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