Owners, open your wallets. Buyout season officially opened at midnight.
The second and final period for the NHL clubs to use their amnesty buyouts began 48 hours after the Los Angeles Kings claimed the 2014 Stanley Cup. The buyout window will slam shut for good at 5 p.m. ET on June 30. Bought-out players become unrestricted free agents and can sign with a new club on July 1.
Each team was granted two compliance buyouts to use either last summer or this one, a clause embedded in the new CBA to provide some previously spend-silly GMs with a mulligan. Or two. Some teams have already hinted at their intentions publicly; others are remaining tight-lipped and will work the trade phones until they’re left with no other options.
In order to be bought out, the player must not be injured, however. He must also pass through waivers, although that is more a matter of formality since no one is jumping to pay Ville Leino what the 2011 Sabres are. Important to note that a player cannot re-sign with the same club that bought him out until a full calendar year passes.
Here, in brief, is what we know about where your favourite team stands on using its buyouts before the window closes.
Anaheim Ducks Buyouts used: 0 
The Ducks, quiet thus far, will likely sit pat — a testament to GM Bob Murray’s salary cap management.
Boston Bruins Buyouts used: 0 
General manager Peter Chiarelli has committed big money and term to a handful of players, but they’ve all performed. The Bruins announced early last summer that an amnesty buyout wasn’t in the plans. Wouldn’t be surprised if they do the same this June.
Buffalo Sabres Buyouts used: 0 
Former GM Darcy Regier pulled the trigger on forward Nathan Gerbe ($1.45 million cap hit through 2013-14) last season instead. Gerbe’s buyout, however, did not fall under the amnesty category. He signed with the Carolina Hurricanes and scored 31 points. Ville Leino ($4.5-million cap hit until 2016-17) was the posterboy buyout candidate; he scored no goals this season. New manager Tim Murray placed Leino on waivers for the purposes of an amnesty buyout on Tuesday.
Ville Leino will receive $7.3M over the next six years from his #sabres buyout. He earned approximately $15M on the deal previously.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 17, 2014
Calgary Flames Buyouts used: 0
Positioned well under the cap and prepared to spend, it’s highly doubtful the Flames use a buyout.
Carolina Hurricanes Buyouts used: 0
The Hurricanes traded their leading buyout candidate, Tuomo Ruutu ($4.75 million cap hit until 2015-16), to the New Jersey Devils at the March deadline.
Chicago Blackhawks Buyouts used: 2
They aren’t headline-grabbing names, but Chicago bought out Steve Montador ($2.75 million cap hit until 2014-15) and Rostislav Olesz ($3.125 million until 2013-14) after winning the 2013 Stanley Cup in order to free up cash and re-sign Bryan Bickell, then a pending UFA.
Colorado Avalanche Buyouts used: o
In 2013, Joe Sakic used a standard buyout on defenceman Greg Zanon ($2.25 million cap hit through 2013-14). Although P.A. Parenteau has spent time in coach Patrick Roy’s doghouse, he’s more likely to be traded than bought out.
Columbus Blue Jackets Buyouts used: 0
No buyouts last summer. This summer, there is an outside chance 32-year-old forward R.J. Umberger ($4.6 million cap hit through 2016-17) is a candidate.
Detroit Red Wings Buyouts used: 1
Defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo ($2.5 million cap hit through 2013-14) got the buyout last summer; he signed a cheap, one-year deal with St. Louis and played sparingly on the Blues’ blue line. The contracts of overpaid forwards Todd Bertuzzi and Mikael Samuelsson are set to expire, giving the Red Wings some cap space to play with this summer. On April 29, Detroit GM Ken Holland said he would not pursue a buyout of forward Johan Franzen ($3.95 million cap hit through 2019-20) but is considering using the team’s final amnesty buyout on Jordin Tootoo ($1.9 million cap hit through 2014-15). Tootoo played just 11 NHL games in 2013-14, registering a single assist.
Ken Holland says it's likely Red Wings will use compliance buyout on Jordin Tootoo if no trade possible
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) April 29, 2014
Dallas Stars Buyouts used: 1
Aaron Rome cleared waivers Tuesday and has been bought out of the final year of his contract, a cap hit of $1.5 million. Often a healthy scratch, the 30-year-old defenceman played just 25 games this year with Dallas, registering a single assist and a -6 rating. Another one to watch is veteran forward Eric Cole, who isn’t cheap ($4.5 million cap hit until 2014-15) and wasn’t GM Jim Nill’s acquisition. The 35-year-old’s production (29 points in 2013-14) has fallen off sharply.
#Stars use compliance buyout on defenseman Aaron Rome. READ: http://t.co/YVhH5HEwP4
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 17, 2014
Edmonton Oilers Buyouts used: 0
The Oilers’ big-money deals have all been made with young, promising stars. Nothing to see here.
Florida Panthers Buyouts used: 0
Panthers GM Dale Tallon might take a look at buying out ailing captain Ed Jovanovski ($4.1 million cap hit until 2014-15). Under new ownership, the team has grown more keen to spend to win.
Los Angeles Kings Buyouts used: 0
Last spring general manager Dean Lombardi said his club was devoid of poor contracts and there would be no need to use a compliance buyout. But Eric Duhatschek of the Globe & Mail raises the possibility of Lombardi buying out 29-year-old centre Mike Richards this summer. Richards is a winner who notched 10 points during the Kings’ 26-game run to the championship but has seen his production and ice time decrease over the last three seasons. Despite playing all 82 games and bringing much coveted hockey “intangibles,” this year Ricahrds scored just 11 goals and hasn’t hit 20 since he left Philadelphia after the 2010-11 campaign. “Unlike Jeff Carter, who has gotten better and better in his time in L.A., Richards has really struggled,” writes Duhatschek. Whether or not the Kings re-sign pending UFA Marian Gaborik — incredible during the Kings’ championship run — could play a factor here. Richards is signed through 2020 with a cap hit of $5.75 million, but he’ll make $7 million in actual salary next season. According to capgeek.com, buying out Richards would cost the Kings $19.33 million over 12 years.
Minnesota Wild Buyouts used: 1
Last summer the Wild used its first compliance buyout on defenceman Tom Gilbert ($4 million cap hit through 2013-14). Gilbert signed a one-year, $900,000 deal with Florida and provided the Panthers with good value. With forward Dany Heatley’s $7 million cap hit coming off the books, the Wild should be fine.
Montreal Canadiens Buyouts used: 2
The Habs have used up both buyouts already. After paying off Scott Gomez immediately after the 2012-13 lockout ended, Montreal gave defenceman Tomas Kaberle his pink slip. After single-season stints with San Jose and Florida, Gomez is a UFA once again. Kaberle spent 2013-14 playing for Kladno in the Czech Elite League.
Nashville Predators Buyouts used: 1
General manger David Poile tapped defenceman Hal Gill for a buyout in 2013. The free-agent veteran found a one-year, $700,000 gig with Philadelphia early in 2013-14 but played just six games.
Thank you to the @PredsNHL for bringing me to a great city to meet so many awesome people. I enjoyed the ride. Cheers!
— Hal Gill (@Skillsy75) July 4, 2013
New Jersey Devils Buyouts used: 1
Upon acquiring Cory Schneider from Vancouver, Lou Lamoriello bought out third-string goaltender Johan Hedberg in 2013. This year Anton Volchenkov ($4.25 million cap hit until 2015-16) has a target on him. On Tuesday, GM Lou Lamoriello told NJ.com that he is still considering using his final get-out-of-jail-free card. The final $3.25 million owed to captain Bryce Salvador for next season could also be in play. But Lamoriello told the site he has yet to make up his mind. “Absolutely not. You don’t use something just for the sake of using it,” he said. “If it is used, it will be for the right reasons, but that’s not saying it will be used.”
New York Islanders Buyouts used: 1
It is as if the compliance buyout was created for Rick DiPietro ($3.57 million cap hit until 2020-21), whom the Isles bought out in 2013. Regardless if another club signs him as a UFA, DiPietro will collect $1.5 million annually for 16 seasons. Read that sentence again. Now feel free to retrieve your jaw from the floor.
New York Rangers Buyouts used: 1
Perhaps the most compelling buyout candidate of all is centre Brad Richards, who was rumoured to be on the chopping block in 2013 but turned his game around under new coach Alain Vigneault. The Rangers already used up one get-out-of-jail-free card on defenceman Wade Redden, who enjoyed a brief NHL encore with the Blues and Bruins in 2013 before retiring. The 33-year-old Richards’ $6.67 million cap hit through 2019-20 is a strain in New York, even when he’s at the top of his game.
“I really can’t make any comments about what’s going to happen during the summer,” Rangers GM Glen Sather said on June 3. “It’s not something that we need to get into talking with. He’s with the New York Rangers.” But as Richards’ ice time declined in the Stanley Cup Final, reports from various insiders, including Larry Brooks of the New York Post, all point to Richards having played his last game with New York.
“It is only a matter of timing as to when management exercises its final amnesty buyout on the team’s de-facto captain, whose tenure over three years added class and a substantial presence to the organization,” Brooks writes. “Richards will leave the Rangers in a far better place than when he joined them. His contract has paid for itself.”
Brad Richards will not address the media today. Read into that what you will.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) June 16, 2014
Ottawa Senators Buyouts used: 0
Don’t expect to see a compliance buyout in the budget-conscious Canadian capital.
Philadelphia Flyers Buyouts used: 2
The Flyers cut two giant cheques — one to forward Danny Briere and one to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov — in 2013, giving GM Paul Holmgren a pair of significant mulligans. It’s as if the whole idea of amnesty buyouts was created for this free-spending team. At reasonable rates, Bryzgalov (Minnesota) and Briere (Montreal) enjoyed stretches of success in 2013-14.
Phoenix Coyotes Buyouts used: 0
Buyouts are the least of the Coyotes’ worries; the rumour mill has been quiet on the amnesty front.
Pittsburgh Penguins Buyouts used: 0
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury ($5 million cap hit through 2014-15) was a rumoured candidate last summer. His bounce-back season, however, quieted such speculation. Regarding his compliance buyouts, “I do not expect to use them,” general manager Jim Rutherford told the Post-Gazette on Sunday.
San Jose Sharks Buyouts used: 0
Past-his-prime forward Martin Havlat has been plagued with injuries and carries a $5 million cap hit through 2014-15. GM Doug Wilson has already informed Havlat that he will not be back with San Jose next season. Although Wilson is reportedly shopping Havlat, a buyout appears more likely.
St. Louis Blues Buyouts used: 0
The St. Louis Blues’ player salaries have been very well managed. No buyouts here.
Tampa Bay Lightning Buyouts used: 1
Former franchise face Vincent Lecavalier ($7.73 million cap hit until 2019-20) became the recipient of the largest buyout in NHL history ($32 million plus) in 2013. He was snatched up by the Flyers. Depth forward Ryan Malone ($4.5 million cap hit through 2014-15) is the prime candidate to go this summer; his cocaine arrest didn’t help his trade value. Although players, such as Malone, who are enrolled in the league’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program cannot be bought out, Malone could be finished with the program before the buyout period commences.
Ryan Malone was primed for contract buyout based on salary and poor play. This should be last straw.#TBLightning
— david freed (@davidwfreed) April 12, 2014
Toronto Maple Leafs Buyouts used: 2
The cash-flush Maple Leafs pulled the plug on defenceman Mike Komisarek and centre Mikhail Grabovski in 2013. Komisarek played 32 games for Carolina in 2013-14, while Grabovski left angry and had a nice little bounce-back season in Washington.
It was a privilege playing for a first class organization like the Leafs even though things did not turn out as I would have liked.
— Mike Komisarek (@mkomisarek) July 2, 2013
Vancouver Canucks Buyouts used: 1
Defenceman Keith Ballard ($4.2 million cap hit until 2014-15) was bought out in 2013 and signed a two-year, $3-million deal with Minnesota. Winger David Booth ($4.25 million cap hit through 2014-15) should become the Canucks’ second compliance buyout this summer. Despite a case to keep him, new GM Jim Benning placed Booth on waivers for the purpose of a buyout Tuesday. The winger scored just five goals in 49 games in 2013-14; he carries a cap hit of $4.5 million and is signed through 2016-17.
David Booth will receive a little more than $1.5M each of the next two years once he's bought out by #canucks.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 17, 2014
Washington Capitals Buyouts used: 1
Former Capitals GM George McPhee bought out defenceman Jeff Schultz ($2.75 million cap hit through 2013-14) last summer. Schultz signed with L.A. but only played for the Kings’ AHL affiliate this season. Forward Brooks Laich ($4.5 million cap hit through 2016-17) scored just eight goals in 2013-14 before injuring his groin; the 30-year-old had his least productive season since his rookie campaign. A team cannot buyout an injured player, however, and Laich, who underwent groin surgery in March, failed his end-of-year physical. The Capitals can bring him in for another physical before the buyout period commences.
Winnipeg Jets Buyouts used: 0
Despite rumblings that goaltender Ondrej Pavelec ($3.9 million cap hit through 2016-17) might not be long for Winnipeg, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff announced in April that Pavelec will be the Jets’ starting goaltender in 2014-15. The Jets are unlikely to use an amnesty buyout.