he Lightning has initiated the compliance buyout process for veteran wing Ryan Malone, the Times has learned.
Tampa Bay had one more buyout available, having used one on former captain Vinny Lecavalier last summer. A buyout of Malone will save the Lightning a $4.5 million cap hit by spreading two-thirds of his $2.5 milllion salary ($1.67 million) evenly over two years.
The move creates more cap flexibility with free agency period opening on July 1st.
There were several reasons the Lightning considered buying out Malone, who was heading into the final year of a seven-year, $31.5 million deal. There's his legal issues, with Malone facing one charge of DUI and one charge of cocaine possession stemming from an April arrest in Tampa; he's pleaded not guilty, with his next court date in July.
that's a hell of a top 9 ... and that's without former 1st rounder Vlad Namestnikov, who has done very well in the AHL and seems ready for the NHL, and J.T. Brown. All Tampa has to do now is upgrade their defense and they'll be a force in the East.
that's a hell of a top 9 ... and that's without former 1st rounder Vlad Namestnikov, who has done very well in the AHL and seems ready for the NHL, and J.T. Brown. All Tampa has to do now is upgrade their defense and they'll be a force in the East.
That lineup is making the paper it's written on look like a supermodel. It's definitely sexy.
Stamkos playing with Drouin is going to be unreal.
I am still waiting.... I know someone will suggest we could use Malone sometime soon. It seems like every single available or even not available player someone will post Flames could use him.
The Following User Says Thank You to OzSome For This Useful Post:
that's a hell of a top 9 ... and that's without former 1st rounder Vlad Namestnikov, who has done very well in the AHL and seems ready for the NHL, and J.T. Brown. All Tampa has to do now is upgrade their defense and they'll be a force in the East.
Stamkos is a centre. Why do you have him playing RW?
in two years, remove Malones name and replace with Callahan. Yzerman proving once again, a great player isn't always the besT judge of the game or a team.
Lightning to compliance buyout Ryan Malone
