Buyouts are a tool that GMs have in their toolbox, but they're very careful when to use them as they can get messy and hold teams back in the future, just ask the Minnesota Wild.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have two players on the books who have been bought out. The good news is, they're about to fall off, freeing up a little more money for the start of the 2026 free agent period. The players will be paid throughout this season, and then will come off the books.
Let's take a look at who they're about to make their last payments to.
Alex Wennberg - $891,667 owed - Wennberg was bought out by Jarmo Kekäläinen before the 2020-2021 season. Wennberg played 415 games for Columbus and had 201 points.
Wennberg was signed to a large contract worth $4.90M per year after he had a season with 59 points. After three seasons of declining numbers, he was bought out. To date, his highest point total is 38.
Adam Boqvist - $533,333 owed - Boqvist was bought out prior to the 2024-25 season by GM Don Waddell. Boqvist only played 133 games over three years due to injuries. He had 56 total points.
Boqvist signed a one-year deal with the New York Islanders in May. He started the year with Florida but was placed on waivers, where he was then claimed by NYI.
The Blue Jackets have been smart regarding buyouts over the years, for the most part. The Wennberg buyout was a bit much and probably could've been avoided by trading him and retaining some salary if they had tried hard enough to do so. But that chapter in CBJ history is almost over.
Many people want the Jackets to buyout Elvis or Damon Severson, but it's just not that easy. Severson would require payments for the next 12 seasons, and that's just not feasible. The Minnesota Wild have been bogged down by two expensive buyouts for years now, and that's not something Don Waddell is interested in doing.
Where do you stand on buyouts?
Let us know what you think below.
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