4 Top Buyout Candidates Around The NHL This Summer

There are always a few buyouts every year to free up cap space from a bad contract where the player is underperforming. Sometimes the player who is bought out bounces back on a new team, but other times their career wraps up quickly. There are four players who stand out as options to be bought out when it comes the time this offseason.

Philipp Grubauer

The Seattle Kraken missed the playoffs again, and while some of the blame can be put on the lack of scoring, it can also be placed on Philipp Grubauer who hasn't been good since signing a contract with the Kraken. He has two more years left at $5.9 million AAV and it is past time he is bought up, no matter the cost. For a team outside of the playoffs, draft picks are more important and they can't be using any to move Grubauer, not like any team would take that contract anyways. Daccord was great this season while Grubauer went 8-17-1 with a 3.49 GAA and .875 SV%. I don't think he will even get an NHL job next season if he is bought out.

Justin Holl

The Detroit Red Wings signing Justin Holl was a bad move from the start. They already had too many veterans and he was given a three-year deal. He wasn't good in year one and wasn't good this season, averaging 14:48 of ice time, a poor expected goals for percentage, and eight points. He has one year left at $3.4 million AAV and Steve Yzerman's seat is getting hotter if he doesn't give the Red Wings the pieces to get them into the playoffs.

Kevin Hayes

With Kyle Dubas as the general manager and Sidney Crosby and company hanging around playing well, the Pittsburgh Penguins are not throwing in the white towel. There are going to be changes to help this team make it back to the postseason and that may start with a buyout of Kevin Hayes. In order for some of the young talent to have room to get into the lineup and make a difference, some spots have to be freed up. Hayes has one year left of his seven-year deal and the buyout wouldn't be so bad since the Penguins are only paying part of it. His cap hit with the Penguins is $3.571 million AAV.

Conor Sheary

The Tampa Bay Lightning are always right at the salary cap and if they can find a way to free up some more space, they will. An easy way I can see them doing so is buying out the final year of Conor Sheary's contract. Though he has been effective when playing in the NHL over his career, he wasn't given a chance this season with the Lightning, playing just five games. He put up 57 points in 57 games in the AHL, but has one year left at $2 million AAV. Buying out his contract will free up a little more cap room and the Lightning will definitely consider it if he isn't contributing in the NHL.

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