The compliance buyout period opened on Monday, and Devils fans have anxiously been awaiting word of a buyout on defenseman Anton Volchenkov or the captain Bryce Salvador.
The Devils have too many NHL defensemen signed through next season and still could retain Mark Fayne, so ridding themselves of a contract would be beneficial. Buying out Volchenkov or Salvador (my money is on Volchenkov) would clear some much needed cap space, too, so Lou Lamoriello would have more flexibility to try and bring in some much needed help up front.
There's no guarantee Lamoriello uses a buyout at all, though, as he told Devils beat writer Rich Chere the team may not use their 2nd and final compliance buyout.
Via NJ.com: "Absolutely not. You don't use something just for the sake of using it. If it is used it will be for the right reasons, but that's not saying it will be used," Lamoriello said.
While Lamoriello said it's not a certainty that the team uses a compliance buyout, they're still going over everything and in the process of making a final decision.
Via NJ.com "Right now we're still having our final meetings and no decisions have been made either way," Lamoriello said.
Knowing the team is even considering an option where they don't use a buyout is somewhat worrisome, but at the end of the day (i.e. by June 30) I think Lamoriello will come to his senses and use the compliance buyout.
Lamoriello has always said to use time when it's on your side, so perhaps that's what he's doing here.
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