With the Stanley Cup awarded to the Lightning again, as we seem to do every year, the first NHL buyout window is now open. This season, as part of the adjusted offseason calendar of dates agreed to in the Transition Rules, that window opened 24 hrs after the Stanley Cup Final, or sometime last night.
Process
Only players who were on the team’s roster at the most recent trade deadline can be bought out. As mentioned in the Expansion Draft rules, Seattle may not buy out anyone they select in the Expansion Draft.
A team must first put a player on unconditional waivers before they are bought out.