Blue Jacket: Big Trade Dilemma, Would Waddell Pull The Trigger On Buying Out Big Star?

The Jackets don’t need to clear cap space as free agency approaches, and the draft is one day away, but the NHL silly season is officially here.

The NHL buyout window opened yesterday and will close on June 30th at 5 pm Eastern. This time of year is often filled with moves to clear salary cap space and shed undesirable contracts.

For the Columbus Blue Jackets, there is really only one player who is considered a potential buyout candidate. However, Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has stated numerous times that buying out goaltender Elvis Merzlikins’ contract is not an option. Waddell told The Athletic, “People say, ‘Well, why don’t you buy out the contract?’

It’s a six-year buyout, and there are years three, four, five, and six when you might need that cap space.” This suggests the Blue Jackets are reluctant to take on the long-term cap implications of buying out Merzlikins’ deal, even if it could provide short-term relief.Overall, the Blue Jackets appear to be limited in their buyout options this offseason, with Waddell indicating Merzlikins’ contract is not a viable candidate to be bought out despite external suggestions to do so.

In the unpredictable world of professional sports, general managers are known for keeping their strategies under wraps. If Columbus were to buy out Elvis Merzļikins, it would cost them $10,500,000outoftheremaining$15,750,000 on his contract. According to PuckPedia, players over 26 years old, like Elvis at 30, are eligible for a buyout at 67% of their remaining salary.

Here’s what the cap hit per year would look like if they did decide to buy him out:

• 2024-25: $1,150,000
• 2025-26: $1,625,000
• 2026-27: $2,925,000
• 2027-28: $1,750,000
• 2028-29: $1,750,000
• 2029-30: $1,750,000

These figures show significant impacts on Columbus’ cap, particularly in the third year. This could complicate efforts to extend young players like Fantilli, Chinakhov, and Brindley, who are due for new contracts, along with RFAs like Jiricek and Svozil.

Don Waddell has emphasized the long-term implications, stating, “There are years three, four, five, and six when you might need that cap space.” Despite the challenges, Waddell is committed to helping Elvis regain his top form, indicating this decision isn’t set in stone.

Ultimately, NHL GMs thrive on secrecy and strategic maneuvering, making it challenging to predict their next move definitively.