The St. Louis Blues have placed forward Jonathan Drouin on waivers for the purpose of buying out his contract.
The 31-year-old forward is signed through next season at a cap hit of $4 million. The buyout leaves the Blues with a cap charge of $1.33 million in each of the next two years, freeing up $2.67 million this summer.
Drouin posted one goal and three points in nine games with the St. Louis Blues this past season after being acquired from the New York Islanders. He had three goals and 21 points in 55 games prior to the trade.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports Drouin intends to continue his playing career and will likely have options on the free-agent market.
Selected third overall in the 2013 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Drouin has posted 111 goals and 398 points over 671 games with the Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, Islanders and Blues.
He signed the two-year, $8 million contract that is being bought out last summer with the Islanders.
