The Detroit Red Wings for several months have been unable to find any takers for defenseman Xavier Ouellet, so they will buy out the final year of his contract.

Ouellet was placed on waivers today. He is certain to clear Monday at noon and will be bought out of the last year of his deal ($1.3 million).

He will count $166,667 and $216,667 against the salary cap in each of the next two seasons.

The Red Wings had high hopes for Ouellet, who turns 25 on July 29, after drafting him 48th overall in 2011. But they soured on him last season, feeling he committed too many turnovers and didn't skate well enough.

Ouellet appeared in 141 games over parts of five seasons, picking up five goals and 18 assists. Because he's under 26, he'll be paid only one-third the remaining value of his deal ($433,333) over the next two years instead of the standard two-thirds.

The Red Wings have six defensemen under contract for next season: Danny DeKeyser, Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, Trevor Daley, Nick Jensen and Luke Witkowski (also plays forward).

They have offered impending unrestricted free Mike Green a one-year contract for $6 million, which what he has earned the past three seasons, and a two-year deal for $5 million per season. They're not willing to sign him for more than two years.

They are counting on a prospect from the Grand Rapids Griffins -- Filip Hronek, Joe Hicketts or Dennis Cholowski -- to make the season-opening roster.