The Nashville Predators are buying out star center Matt Duchene after placing him on unconditional waivers Friday. Duchene, 32, had three years left on the seven-year, $56 million contract he signed with the Predators in July 2019.
It carried an average annual value of $8 million against the salary cap. Duchene was due $20 million in actual salary over the next three seasons.
His contract didn't carry any no-movement protection. He is now an unrestricted free agent. Duchene was Nashville's second-leading scorer last season with 56 points in 71 games, including 22 goals.
Duchene had 197 points in 249 career games with the Predators over four seasons, including a 43-goal season in 2021-22. In his 14-year NHL career, Duchene has 744 points in 976 career games with Nashville, Ottawa, Columbus and Colorado, which selected him third overall in the 2009 NHL draft.