5 players likely to get bought out according to an insider

In a Daily Faceoff article from NHL insider Frank Seravalli, he predicts the top 5 players he thinks could be bought out this summer.

There are two interesting players among the five he lists; Kailer Yamamoto and Mikael Granlund.

Both are solid NHLers but not worth their contracts.

Seravalli breaks down what a Yamamoto buyout would entail. As opposed to being paid $3.1 million next season, it would cost the Oilers under $1 million to may Yamamoto over the next two seasons which would save considerable cap to get a top free agent or make a trade.

Yamamoto, who is only 24 years old, scored only 25 points last season in 58 games. Drafted in 2017 as a high-scoring undersized forward, Yamamoto has yet to register a season over 50 points with his career-high being 41 which came in 2021-22.

A buyout would give Yamamoto the opportunity to get a fresh start elsewhere where he could get more ice time and potentially finally break out into the NHL.

Granlund is in a very different spot compared to Yamamoto. His contract is worth $10 million over the next two seasons but a buyout would cost the Penguins only just over $6 million over the next four seasons. While he scored 40+ points this past season, he is not worth $5 million a season.

Depending on the next Penguins' GM, he may be bought out or may not be. He could also be traded to a team willing to take on part of his cap hit for an asset like Arizona or Anaheim.

Full article from Daily Faceoff - Oilers' Kailer Yamamoto headlines five NHL Buyout Candidates in 2023 Offseason