Jets' Blake Wheeler, Predators' Matt Duchene among players being bought out

Prominent forwards Blake Wheeler and Matt Duchene are among the NHL players who have been put on unconditional waivers on Friday for the purpose of buying out the remainder of their contracts.

Wheeler, 36, had been with the Jets since 2011 when the then-Atlanta Thrashers acquired him in a trade from the Boston Bruins and is the franchise's leader in games, points and assists. He had been the team's captain for six seasons before Jets coach Rick Bowness went without a captain last season.

Duchene, 32, like Wheeler a two-time All-Star, has been with the Predators for four seasons and is two seasons removed from a 43-goal season.

Duchene had 22 goals this past season and Wheeler had 16.

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"This is the continuation of an organizational process that started at the trade deadline - our desire to change the roster, allowing our emerging players the chance to grow and develop, while also creating the flexibility to build a team that will become a Stanley Cup contender," incoming Predators general manager Barry Trotz said.

The deadline for this buyout window is 5 p.m. ET. Players will become unrestricted free agents after being bought out.

Wheeler is the second key player the Jets have moved out. They traded Pierre Luc-Dubois to the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the week.

How does a buyout work?

An NHL team can buy out a player's contract for two-thirds of the remaining amount if the player is 26 or older or for one-third if younger than 26. That figure is spread out over twice the number of years remaining on the contract. Signing bonuses are excluded from buyouts. The buyout amount for each year counts toward the team's cap hit.

What are the numbers for the players who are being bought out?

(Figures from capfriendly.com)

Blake Wheeler: One year left on contract at $8.25 million. Buyout amount: $5.5 million spread over two seasons.

Matt Duchene: Three years left at $20 million with a $8 million cap hit, with $6 million of that in signing bonuses. Buyout amount: $9,333,333 spread over six seasons. Note: There will be a cap hit of more than $5.5 million in 2024-25 and more than $6.5 million in 2025-26.

Defenseman Mike Reilly, 29, Bruins: One year left at $4 million with a $3 million cap hit. Buyout amount: $1,333,333 over two years.

Forward Kailer Yamamoto, 24, Detroit Red Wings: One year left at $3.2 million with a $3.1 million cap hit. Buyout amount: $1,066,667 over two years.

Who was bought out before Friday's four players?

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Vancouver Canucks; Zack Kassian and Patrik Nemeth, Arizona Coyotes; Josh Bailey, Chicago Blackhawks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL buyouts: Blake Wheeler, Matt Duchene on list