Sekera had two years left on a six-year deal that carried a $5.5M cap-hit but the buyout will have a $2.5M cap-hit for the next two seasons—giving them $3.0M in additional cap-space heading into free agency.
Darling has not played well since signing a big deal in Carolina and is now headed to unrestricted free agency after being bought out. Darling appeared in just eight NHL games last year, spending most of the year in the AHL, where he was 5-8-0 with a 3.40 GAA and .882 SV%.
Reimer has two years remaining on his contract that carries a $3.4M cap-hit and the Panthers were trying hard to move it ahead of free agency. Reimer, who went 13-12-5 with a 3.09 GAA and .900 SV% last year, will likely serve as Carolina’s No.2 option between the pipes in 2020.
Joseph was selected No.23 overall in 2017 and is coming off of a 47-point (9G / 38A) campaign in the QMJHL. The 19-year-old has good size (6-foot-2, 168 lbs), terrific mobility and puck skills that should make him a point-producer in the NHL in the near future. With veterans clogging up the Penguins’ blueline, Joseph is likely headed to the AHL to start the 2019-20 season.
Galchenyuk has been traded for the second time in two summers. The 25-year-old was hurt to start the 2018-19 season but finished the year with 19 goals and 22 assists (41 points) in 72 games with Arizona. Surprisingly, Galchenyuk’s minutes dropped with the Coyotes but he could easily replace Kessel in the Penguins’ top-6 and land on a line with Evgeni Malkin, which could revitalize his young career.
Birks was originally a sixth-round pick (No.164 overall) in 2013 and is simply a contract moving to Arizona. The 23-year-old spent almost the entire 2018-19 season with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), where he had one goal and 13 assists (14 points) in 65 games.
After registering a career-high 92 points in 2017-18, Kessel’s numbers dropped off a bit in 2018-19 but he still tied for 18thin the NHL in assists (55) and red for 23rd in points (82). Moving to Arizona should allow Kessel to play a massive role, similar to his days in Toronto. Kessel is capable of being a 30-goal, 50-assist winger for the Coyotes in 2019-20.
Quine has been a fantastic AHL player over the years and led the Stockton Heat with 52 points (19G / 33A) in 41 games this season. The 26-year-old also recorded three goals and two assists (five points) in 13 games with Calgary—he has 27 points (9G / 18A) in 97 career NHL games.
Carrick spent most of the 2018-19 season with San Diego (AHL), where he led the team in goals (32) and points (61) in 61 games. The 27-year-old played in six games with the Ducks, picking up just one assist—giving him three points (1G / 2A) in 25 career NHL games.
Somerby was a fifth-round pick of the Islanders in 2012 and just finished his second season with Cleveland (AHL). The 24-year-old led all Monsters defensemen with eight goals and added 12 assists to give him 20 points in 66 games last year. He will remain with Cleveland to start the 2019-20 season.
Marincin served as an extra defenseman for most of the 2018-19 season, playing just 24 NHL games and eight AHL games. The 27-year-old had one goal and four assists (five points) with the Maple Leafs and will likely serve as their No.7 defenseman in 2019-20.
Hutchinson started the 2018-19 season with the Panthers before being acquired by Toronto where he was 14-7-1 with a 2.70 GAA and .910 SV% in 23 games with the Marlies (AHL). He appeared in five games with the Maple Leafs, going 2-3-0 with a 2.64 GAA and .914 SV% and has a legitimate chance at being Frederik Andersen’s backup in 2019-20.
Kuhnhackl had four goals and five assists (nine points) while appearing in just 36 games with the Islanders last season. The 27-year-old also registered three assists in eight games during the Islanders brief postseason run. He returns on a one-year deal where he will likely play in the Islanders bottom-6.
Spooner has one-year left on his deal that carries a $4.0M cap-hit. The 27-year-old had a tough 2019 season, bouncing from the Rangers, to the Oilers to the Canucks and finishing with just three goals and six assists (nine points) in 52 games.
Nichushkin has been a huge disappointment for the Stars since selecting him No.10 overall in 2013. Nichushkin failed to live up to expectations early in his career before going to the KHL for two years (2017 and 2018). He returned to the NHL last year but did not score a goal while collecting just 10 assists in 57 games. Nichushkin has one-year left on his deal that carries a $2.95M cap-hit (per PuckPedia).
MacDonald had one goal in two games with the Panthers last year but spend most of the season in Springfield (AHL). The 26-year-old led all Thunderbirds’ defensemen in goals (14) and points (43) in 72 games. MacDonald is likely headed to the AHL to start 2020 as well.
Toninato, who appeared in 37 games with the Avalanche in 2017-18, played in just two NHL games last season. The 25-year-old had 14 goals and 15 assists (29 points) in 57 AHL games and has a chance to crack the Florida roster as their fouth-line centre in 2020.
Sgarbossa has bounced around the league in his career but has been a good AHL scorer along the way. The 26-year-old led Hershey in points (65) and was second in goals (30) during 2018-19 and will likely remain with the Bears to start 2020.
The Golden Knights have run into some cap issues and Miller is the second player to fall victim to that this week. Miller isn’t the best in his own-end but provides a lot in the offensive-zone and possesses a massive point-shot that is a weapon on the power-play. Miller had three goals and 26 assists (29 points) in 65 games last season, but had a 10-goal, 41-point campaign in 2017-18. Miller has three years left on his deal and joins a blueline that already has offensive-minded defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin, Rasmus Ristolainen and Brandon Montour.
Kosmachuk is a pending unrestricted free agent, who had 12 goals and 11 assists (23 points) in 54 AHL games with the Colorado Eagles last season. The 25-year-old was a third-round pick in 2012 but has played just eight NHL games since.
