Top 10 NHL Compliance Buyout Candidates 2014

Brad Richards #1 Compliance Buyout Candidate

The compliance buyout period starts on June 16 and ends on June 30. Teams have one more chance before the start of the 2014-2015 NHL season to get contracts off their books without it counting against their salary cap. A compliance buyout can only be executed on a contract entered into on or before Sept. 15, 2012 and teams start with two compliance buyouts in total. Teams are free to use regular buyouts on contracts, but that would count against their salary cap.

TWO BUYOUTS LEFT: Anaheim, Boston, Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, Florida, Los Angeles, Nashville, Ottawa, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Jose, St. Louis, Winnipeg
ONE BUYOUT LEFT: Detroit, Edmonton, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay, Vancouver, Washington
NO BUYOUTS LEFT: Chicago, Montreal, Philadelphia, Toronto

Here are my top 10 compliance buyout candidates:
1.  Brad Richards, C, New York Rangers
Cap hit and term: $6.66 million per year, through 2019-20
2.  Ville Leino, LW, Buffalo Sabres
Cap hit and term: $4.5 million per year, through 2016-17
3.  Cam Ward, G, Carolina Hurricanes
Cap hit and term: $6.3 million per year, through 2015-16
4.  Ondrej Pavelec, G, Winnipeg Jets
Cap hit and term: $3.9 million per year, through 2016-17
5.  Marty Havlat, RW, San Jose Sharks
Cap hit and term: $5 million per year, through 2014-15
6.  Ryan Malone, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Cap hit and term: $4.5 million per year, through 2014-15
7.  Anton Volchenkov, D, New Jersey Devils
Cap hit and term: $4.25 million per year, through 2015-16
8.  Jordin Tootoo, RW, Detroit Red Wings
Cap hit and term: $1.9 million per year, through 2014-15
9.  David Booth, LW Vancouver Canucks
Cap hit and term: $4.25 million per year, through 2014-15
10.  Erik Cole, RW, Dallas Stars
Cap hit and term: $4.5 million per year, through 2014-15