Lou Lamoriello and the New Jersey Devils used a compliance buyout last summer on Johan Hedberg, but it appears they won't be using one this off-season.
The Devils have until June 30 to use their 2nd and final compliance buyout should they elect to do so, but at this point it seems improbable.
"It's unlikely," Lamoriello told The Star-Ledger. "No decisions have been made yet. We still have time on our side, but it's unlikely."
While Lamoriello left the door open for a potential buyout before the window closes, it looks like both Bryce Salvador and Anton Volchenkov - the Devils' two main buyout candidates - are safe.
Quite frankly I don't understand this decision at all. Jon Merrill, Eric Gelinas and Adam Larsson all need to be regulars this season and keeping both of those guys doesn't leave enough space on the roster for all the kids. One - perhaps even both - of them had to be moved to make room.
Lamoriello said he wanted to re-sign Mark Fayne, but with eight defenseman already on the roster and the likelihood of Salvador and Volchenkov staying put - Volchenkov's contract is probably unmovable - I think Fayne returning is unlikely.
Not only is Fayne better than both Salvador and Volchenkov, but he's still on the good side of 30 and would probably command less on his next contract.
Keeping Volchenkov and/or Salvador on the roster also prevents the Devils from clearing $3-4 million in cap space they could have put towards a top-6 forward.
This decision is somewhat baffling, really, so it'll be interesting to see where the Devils go from here.
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