NHL buyout history: Biggest, longest deals — plus Penguins details

The Minnesota Wild bought out the final four years of the mega contracts of defenseman Ryan Suter and forward Zach Parise on Tuesday, bringing the NHL’s buyout process into the spotlight.

The two contracts had cap hits of more than $7.5 million apiece, which means the Wild will have plenty of dead cap space for the next eight years.

Here’s a look at some of the more notable cap casualties:

Biggest buyout

Vincent Lecavalier had the most money paid out in buyout money, with $32,666,667 due over 14 years from the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to Cap Friendly. Lecavalier had signed an 11-year, $85 million contract before the 2008-09 season and had the final seven years of the deal bought out.

Longest buyout

New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro had the final eight years of his contract bought out, stretched out over 16 years. The Islanders made the call on July 3, 2013, meaning DiPietro will be paid $1.5 million a year through the end of the 2028-29 season.

First buyout

Forward Curtis Brown holds the distinction of being the first player with his contract bought out, by the Chicago Blackhawks on June 26, 2006. Four players — Shawn McEachern and Travis Green of the Boston Bruins, Bill Guerin of the Dallas Stars and Tie Domi of the Toronto Maple Leafs — followed four days later.

Most buyouts

The New Jersey Devils have bought out the most contracts in the NHL, with 11, starting with Andrew Peters and Jay Pandolfo on June 30, 2010, and most recently Cory Schneider on Oct. 8, 2020. Not far behind are Florida with 10, Nashville with nine, and four teams with eight: Carolina, Minnesota, Montreal and Toronto.

Fewest buyouts

Not counting the Las Vegas Golden Knights, who only joined the league four years ago, two teams have only had one contract buyout apiece: the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Winnipeg Jets.

Penguins buyout

The Pittsburgh Penguins have only bought out one contract: Jack Johnson on Oct. 5, 2020. Johnson, the much-maligned defenseman, will be on the team’s books at $916,667 per year through the 2025-26 season.

Former Penguins buyouts

The list of players who spent time with the Penguins to later be bought out is lengthy:

• Colby Armstrong, bought out by Toronto, 2012
• Matt Cooke, Minnesota, 2015
• Simon Despres, Anaheim, 2017
• Hal Gill, Nashville, 2013
• Eric Godard, Dallas, 2012
• Johan Hedberg, New Jersey, 2013
• Jussi Jokinen, Florida, 2017
• Georges Laraque, Montreal, 2010
• Ryan Malone, Tampa Bay, 2014
• Paul Martin, San Jose, 2018
• Shawn McEachern, Boston, 2006
• Glen Murray, Boston, 2008
• Brooks Orpik, Colorado, 2018

Four players were bought out earlier in their careers before joining the Penguins: Christian Ehrhoff, Bill Guerin, Patrick Marleau and Jay McKee.