Report: Kings considering buying out Phaneuf if trade can't be made
Los Angeles Kings general manager Rob Blake has reportedly contemplated buying out Dion Phaneuf if he's unable to trade the veteran defenseman, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Phaneuf has two years remaining on his contract, which carries a $5.25-million annual cap hit. His deal includes a 12-team trade list.
The 34-year-old hit rock bottom in 2018-19. His six points, minus-21 rating, and 15 minutes of average ice time were all career lows. He was routinely a healthy scratch down the stretch, skating in a total of 67 games.
Here's what a buyout for Phaneuf would look like, according to CapFriendly:
| Season | Post-buyout cap hit |
|---|---|
| 2019-20 | $2.917M |
| 2020-21 | $5.417M |
| 2022-23 | $1.417M |
| 2023-24 | $1.417M |
Phaneuf signed a seven-year, $42-million extension with the Maple Leafs in 2013. Toronto traded him to the Ottawa Senators in 2016, who then flipped him to the Kings two years later and retained $1.75 million per season on his contract.
The Kings have a projected $11.73 million available in cap space this summer. Blake has reportedly discussed a potential trade with the Leafs involving Patrick Marleau.