Bouma, 27, was set to enter his final season of a three-year deal that carried a $2.2M cap hit. Bouma’s buyout will save the Flames $1.53M against the cap in 2017-18. The hard-hitting winger had just seven points (3G / 4A) in 61 gams last season nd just 67 points (27G / 40A) in 304 career NHL games.
Stuart was entering his final season of a four-year deal that carried a $2.625M cap hit. Stuart’s buyout will save the Jets $1.2M against the cap next season. This was a longtime coming for Stuart, who suited up for just 42 games last season and has collected just three goals and four assists (seven points) in a combined 106 games over the last two seasons.
Hayes was entering the final year of a three-year deal that carried a $2.3M cap hit. His buyout will save the Bruins $1.73M against the cap this season and officially leaves the Bruins with zero pieces of their Tyler Seguin trade. After posting 29 points (13G / 16A) in 75 games in his first season in Boston, Hayes was terrible last season, recording just five points (2G / 3A) in 58 games.
Smith-Pelly had one year left on his contract that carried a $1.3M cap-hit. Smith-Pelly’s buyout will save the Devils $1.125M against the cap this season. The former second round pick (No.42 in 2010) has had a tough time producing at the NHL-level and now could be headed for his fourth team in four years.
Cammalleri had two years left on a five-year contract with an annual cap-hit of $5.0M. His buyout will save the Devils $3.33M against the cap in 2017-18. Cammalleri is a great point producer, even at the age of 35, but has had a very difficult time staying healthy, missing a combined 75 games over his three seasons in New Jersey.
Jokinen was set to enter his final-year of a four-year deal that carried a $4.0M cap-hit. HIs buyout will save the Panthers $2.7M against the cap in 2017-18. The veteran winger had an outstanding 2015-16 season, but struggled last year after the emergence of Jonathan Marchessault. Jokinen finished the season with 28 points (11G / 17A) in 69 games and likely won’t have a time finding a new home in free agency.
In January 2016 Rodin was sidelined indefinitely after suffering a knee injury and re-aggravated the same injury last season, limiting him to just six total games. Rodin has a lot of offensive upside, having posted a combined 47 goals and 65 assists (112 points) in 134 games in Sweden before coming to North America last year. If his rehab goes well and he can stay healthy next year, he has the chance to make a fantasy impact.
Despite appearing in just 49 games last season, Petrovic nearly topped his career-high in points, posting 14 points (1G / 13A) with the Panthers. Petrovic is a solid third-pairing defenseman on a talented Panthers’ back-end, but won’t have a fantasy impact.
Stone had six points (2G / 4A) in 19 games after being acquired by the Flames at last year’s deadline. The 27-year-old had a chance to sign somewhere else and be a top-4 defenseman, but he stays in Calgary where he will be their fifth defenseman as a part of one of the most talented bluelines in the NHL.
Orlov is an impressive defenseman that combines high-end skating with physicality and offence. The Russian blueliner had six goals and 27 assists (33 points) in 82 games last season and should be able to post consistent 30-plus point seasons going forward.
Weal was reportedly highly sought after after becoming an unrestricted free agent, but decided to return to the Flyers. Last season he had just 12 pints (8G / 4A) in 23 games with the Flyers, but dominated the AHL scoring 15 goals with 32 assists (47 points) in 43 games with Lehigh Valley. Weal is fully expected to be a full-time NHLer in 2017-18.
Boyle, 25, turned pro last season and split his season between the AHL and the ECHL. He was solid in the AHL, going 10-5-1 with a 2.27 GAA and .924 SV% but played for Utah (ECHL) during the playoffs and was 1-4-0 with a 3.32 GAA and .900 SV%.
Megna, 24, was a seventh round pick in 2012 and made his NHL debut in 2016-17, appearing in one game with the Ducks. He had a career-high 27 points (5G / 22A) in 62 AHL games with the San Diego Gulls.
Kinkaid just finished his third season as the Devils backup and appeared in a career-high 26 games, going 8-13-3 with a 2.64 GAA and a .916 SV%. The Devils could have promoted Scott Wedgewood this fall, but Kinkaid looks like Cory Schneider’s primary backup in 2017-18.
Paajarvi’s career hasn’t gone as expected since being drafted No.10 overall in 2009, but 2016-17 was one of his most successful seasons. The 26-year-old had 18 points (7G / 11A) in 26 AHL games and 13 points (8G / 5A) in 32 games after being called up to the Blues.
Versteeg has bounced around during his NHL career, but has been a solid scorer throughout his 10 years. The 31-year-old had 15 goals and 22 assists (37 points) in 69 games with the Flames last season and will be back for another year as a top-9 forward in 2017-18.
Lashoff was given more NHL opportunities earlier in his career, but has been primarily an AHL defenseman for the last three seasons. In 2016-17, he had 11 points (3G / 8A) in 62 games and had four points (1G / 3A) in 17 playoff games en route to winning a Calder Cup a month ago.
McIlrath, 25, was acquired from the Panthers as a part of the Thomas Vanek trade and picked up four assists in 21 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) and another five assists in 19 playoff games in the Griffins Calder Cup run. McIlrath’s stock has fallen a long way since being drafted No.10 overall in 2010, but offers organizational depth and toughness at the AHL level.
Foligno is a big-body (6’2” / 215 lbs.) that has improved offensively in each of his six NHL seasons, setting a new career-high in goals (13) and tying a career-best in points (23) a season ago. Foligno will likely take Pominville’s spot as a third line winger in Minnesota, but doesn’t offer nearly any fantasy value due to his limited power play exposure.
Ennis scored 20-plus goals and 40-plus points in back-to-back seasons, but registered just eight goals and 16 assists (24 points) in 74 games in two injury plagued seasons over the last couple of years. The diminutive winger has the talent to be a point producer, but needs to find a way to stay on the ice.
