New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers 1st Preseason Game

Defenseman Anton Volchenkov will be an unrestricted free agent at noon Tuesday.

(Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello has had a change of heart and will use the team's final compliance buyout on defenseman Anton Volchenkov.

Hoping to have more options in the free agency market, which opens at noon Tuesday, the GM has decided to buy out the final two years and $8.5 million on the Russian defenseman's six-year, $25.5 million contract signed on July 1, 2010. Last week Lamoriello said the Devils did not plan to buy out any of their players.

The Devils will pay Volchenkov two-thirds of the money remaining on his deal.

By using their final compliance buyout (they bought out goalie Johan Hedberg last year), the Devils cleared another $4.25 million of cap space (Volchenkov's annual salary and cap hit). That gives the team about $14 million in available cap space to sign free agents.

Lamoriello said last week that it was unlikely he would buy out Volchenkov's contract or that of anyone else on the team. Although he did leave the door open, the decision caused immediate speculation as to whether it was a change of heart by the GM or was influenced by ownership.

Volchenkov will become an unrestricted free agent at noon Tuesday.

A tough, shot-blocking defenseman, Volchenkov has battled injuries in recent seasons. Most were the result of his aggressive play.

In 56 games last season, the 32-year-old veteran had no goals and eight assists with 20 penalty minutes. He was plus-3.