The Avalanche will buy out veteran defenseman Brad Stuart and not replace him or recently traded defenseman Nick Holden with marquee free-agent defensemen, general manager Joe Sakic said Monday.
Because of Stuart’s age (36), his buyout won’t provide salary cap relief, leaving $3.6 million on the books. But the Avs will save $1.2 million in cash, according to GeneralFanager.com, a website that tracks NHL player contract information and team salary cap summaries
Before trading Holden to the New York Rangers on Saturday, Sakic said the Avs won’t make a big splash when free agency begins, and he said that remains the plan after informing Stuart that he won’t be with the team next season.