If the Winnipeg Jets wanted to separate themselves from the remaining year of Nate Schmidt's $5.95 million contract, they had until 4 p.m. on Sunday, when the NHL buyout window closed.
So it was no surprise when Schmidt was granted an unconditional waiver for the purpose of a buyout.
It is expected that the Jets will confirm the buyout if and when the veteran defenseman remains unclaimed during the waiver period. If Schmidt is bought out, he will become an unrestricted free agent when the market opens on July 1 at 11 a.m. CT.
According to Puckpedia, the cap savings from the Schmidt buyout for Winnipeg would be a little over US$3.2 million for the 2024-25 season.
Winnipeg acquired Schmidt nearly three years ago in a trade with Vancouver on July 27, 2021, and sent a 2022 third-round pick to the Canucks in exchange for the St. Cloud, Minnesota native, who will turn 33 on July 16.
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In his three years as a Jet, Schmidt scored 65 points with 13 goals and 52 assists in 211 games. Last season, the former Washington Capital, Vegas Golden Knight and Canuck mostly partnered with fellow Minnesotan Dylan Samberg on the third defense pairing. But Schmidt was also made a healthy scratch 19 times by head coach Rick Bowness, in addition to the Jets losing the first two games of the opening round playoff series to Colorado.
Winnipeg is expected to use some of those cap savings in an attempt to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent centre Sean Monahan, whom the Jets acquired from Montreal for a 2024 first-round draft pick on Feb. 2.
Winnipeg is also expected to be active in free agency when the market opens on July 1.
The vacancy on Winnipeg’s blue line could lead to more playing time for 2019 first-round pick and pending restricted free agent Ville Heinola, who made the team last season before fracturing an ankle in the Jets’ final exhibition game against Ottawa on Oct. 5, 2023.
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