With the 2020 NHL Entry Draft only a few hours away, teams are starting to make roster moves to create flexibility. Veterans Justin Abdelkader and Karl Alzner have been placed on unconditional waivers by Detroit and Montreal respectively as both teams plan to buy out the players.
According to CapFriendly, Alzner’s buyout will impact the Montreal Canadiens salary cap for the next four seasons:
2020-21: $3.958M
2021-22: $1.96M
2022-23: $833 333
2023-24 $833 333
As for Abdelkader, he will cost even more to the Detroit Red Wings and will count against their salary cap until 2026:
Both Alzner and Abdelkader’s contracts looked horrible when they were signed, their teams finally realized as much and will now pay them to go away.
Not a buyout but winger Vinnie Hinostroza is also being cut loose by the Arizona Coyotes today. The 26-year old was to become a restricted free agent but in an effort to cut costs, the Coyotes declined to offer him the $1.5m qualifying offer he was due. Hinostroza will now hit the open market as a UFA.
Not much of an offensive force, Hinostroza is a very fast bottom-6 forward who can play both center and wing and has the ability to kill penalties. In essence, he is a slightly better version of Matt Nieto and a depth player that could fit in nicely with what Joe Sakic is trying to do this offseason.
After being acquired from Chicago as a part of the Marian Hossa contract dump trade back in 2018, Hinostroza finished with 21 goals and 61 points over two seasons with the Coyotes.