NHL Rumors III: Richards, Leino, Green and the Capitals
  • Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger: “Brad Richards I do believe will be bought out by the New York Rangers”
  • Stephen Whyno in the Winnipeg Free Press: Brad Richards is a strong candidate to be bought out from his remaining six years and $27 million. He has no points in the Final, with four goals and four assists in 23 playoff games, and is seeing fourth line duty. The Rangers have one compliance buyout left.
  • John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Though likely to be on the receiving end of a compliance buyout by the Sabres, Ville Leino’s agent hasn’t had a lot of discussion with the team.

    “I have had few very short discussions about Leino with Tim Murray,” Leino’s agent, Markus Lehto, told The News by email.

    The Sabres have two compliance buyouts left. Leino’s buyout would cost them $7.333 million. He’s already received $16 million from the six-year, $27 million contract he signed in 2011. The Sabres current salary cap number is at $39 million, with the expected floor to be around $52 million. They could use a regular buyout on him so that his cap number stays.

  • Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: Mike Green’s agent said in a text that he hasn’t had any communication with the Capitals regarding a buyout. The Capitals are unlikely to use their compliance buyout. Gormley wonders if the Capitals should re-sign Mikhail Grabovski or try to sign one of Mike Richards (if bought out), Paul Stastny, David Legwand, Dave Bolland, Brian Boyle and Steve Ott?