Buyout Candidates – Nine Names To Watch

Dec 11, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Kings center Mike Richards (10) before facing off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Kings beat the Maple Leafs 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Once the final window for amnesty buyouts opens following the conclusion of the playoffs, there are going to be a number of big decisions to be made.  This summer marks the third and final opportunity to rid a roster of bad contracts without further future Salary Cap implications.

In the first two windows, 15 players were bought out either before the shortened 2013 season or after it and before free agency opened last summer.  Eleven teams took advantage of the opportunity, with 4 teams using up both of their permitted compliance buyouts.

So, with this final window about to open, what players will unexpectedly be looking for new deals while still getting paid by their old teams?

Here is my list of potential buyout candidates.  Not all will be bought out, but all will be discussed and decisions (some of them extremely difficult) will have to be made. [NOTE:  After publishing, it was brought to my attention that contracts signed after the lockout ended are not applicable for amnesty buyouts so a couple of these players will not be eligible under the amnesty clause]