The Tampa Bay Lightning are cutting ties with an expensive defenseman to save some salary-cap space for next season.
According to a person with direct knowledge of the move, the Lightning placed Matt Carle on buyout waivers.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Thursday because the teams didn't announce their decisions.
Carle had two years left on his contract at a salary-cap hit of $5.5 million. The buyout saves the Lightning $3.67 million in cap space for the next two seasons.
Tampa Bay wanted to clear space after re-signing Steven Stamkos to a $68 million, eight-year deal. With restricted free agents Nikita Kucherov, Alex Killorn, Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Nesterov in need of new contracts, general manager Steve Yzerman said the buyout window was one avenue he could explore.
The free agent market opens at noon Eastern on Friday.