Penguins' Mikael Granlund Named Top Buyout Candidate
The Pittsburgh Penguins could take a hard look at buying out Mikael Granlund this offseason.
The NHL’s first buyout window is set to open soon after the Stanley Cup is handed out, and the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t usually a team involved in this sort of discussion.
This offseason, however, the Penguins should consider their options when it comes to buying someone out of an egregious contract.
There are a couple of players on the roster who could fit the bill for a buyout, but Mikael Granlund leads the pack.
Granlund was chosen by Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff as the third highest biggest buyout candidate in the NHL.
At the age of 31 and making $5 million for two more seasons, Granlund was far from where he needed to be when the Penguins acquired him at the trade deadline.
In 21 games in a Penguins’ uniform, Granlund only recorded a single goal and four assists for five points.
Former general manager Ron Hextall did all he could to make Granlund sound like a reliable asset, but a new face in the Penguins’ front office won’t see him that way.
What makes Granlund a perfect buyout candidate is the likelihood of no other team in the NHL wanting to trade for him.
He makes too much money for not enough production at an increased age.
A buyout might be the best option for the Penguins and the structure turns out to be fairly affordable.
If the Penguins buyout Granlund, the term would push to four years, but at a $833,333 salary cap hit for one year, then $1.83 for the following three.
Those are good savings and should lineup with the supposed cap increase that the NHL has been teasing for years.
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