NHL teams are actively making moves to free up salary cap space for the offseason. The Dallas Stars bought out the final year of Ryan Suter’s contract following a disappointing playoff performance. Similarly, the Philadelphia Flyers placed Cam Atkinson on unconditional waivers to buy out his contract due to underperformance.
Suter, who had a no-movement clause, did not need to go through waivers. His buyout will save the Stars almost $2.9 million against the cap next season but will add $1.4 million in costs for the 2025-26 season. With the salary cap increasing to $88 million for 2024-25, teams have more flexibility for roster changes.
The Flyers’ decision to buy out Atkinson, who scored 28 points in 70 games last season, allows them to inject more youth into their roster. Atkinson, who previously played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, missed an entire season due to a neck injury. His buyout will save the Flyers $3.5 million against the cap next season, though it will cost them almost $1.76 million in 2025-26.
Flyers GM Daniel Briere acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, praising Atkinson’s work ethic and professionalism. Atkinson’s departure opens up opportunities for younger players as the team looks to the future.
Buffalo’s Jeff Skinner is also mentioned as a potential buyout candidate. Despite having three seasons left on his $72 million contract, Skinner has no interest in waiving his no-movement clause. A buyout could save Buffalo over $7.5 million next season but would extend his cap hit through 2030.
