The Arizona Coyotes placed center Antoine Vermette on unconditional waivers Monday morning, with the intention to buy him out of his current deal.
Vermette had a disappointing 2015-16 season in his return to the Coyotes, collecting.17 goals and 38 points.
Youngsters Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak, both centers, have an opportunity to make the NHL team out of training camp this fall, so it appears the Coyotes are comfortable saving the salary-cap room -- about $2.5 million this coming season -- while losing Vermette's veteran experience.
Vermette would have been the third highest-paid forward on the roster next year.