COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have bought out the final two years of left wing Scott Hartnell's contract, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. Hartnell immediately becomes an unrestricted free agent.

"On behalf of our organization, I want to thank Scott for his contributions to the Blue Jackets over the past three seasons and wish him well in the future," said Kekalainen. "Moves like this are never easy, but with our current organizational depth at the position it is something we believe is in the best interest of our club moving forward."