The Columbus Blue Jackets announced Thursday the team bought out the final two years Scott Hartnell‘s contract.
Hartnell had been with the Blue Jackets since the 2014-15 campaign after being acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The veteran forward’s cap hit was going to be $4.75 million in each of the next two seasons. The 35-year-old becomes an unrestricted free agent likely to get some attention on the open market.
“On behalf of our organization, I want to thank Scott for his contributions to the Blue Jackets over the past three seasons and wish him well in the future,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. “Moves like this are never easy, but with our current organizational depth at the position it is something we believe is in the best interest of our club moving forward.”
Hartnell had 13 goals and 37 points in 78 games this past season, totalling 146 points and 275 penalty minutes in 234 regular-season games in a Blue Jackets sweater.
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