The NHL’s summer buyout period hasn’t begun yet, but that hasn’t stopped various NHL teams from already making plans about who they will be buying out this summer.

Reports have surfaced that the Philadelphia Flyers will be buying out Daniel Briere, who has two years remaining on his deal, at a $6.5 million dollar cap hit per year. However the 8 year, $52 million deal that Briere signed in 2007-08 was heavily front loaded meaning that Briere is only owed $3 million in 2013-14 and $2 million in 2014-15.

The signing was considered a major coup by the Flyers, and Briere’s signing was one of a number of moves made that year by Paul Holmgren which helped the Flyers go from the NHL basement in 2006-07, to the Eastern Conference Final in 2008.

With a buyout Briere is paid 66.6% of his remaining money over double the length of time. Meaning that Briere would be paid $833,333 by the Flyers each year for the next four years. If Briere is given the special “amnesty buyout” provision from the last CBA, this money would not count towards the Flyers salary cap.

Last season, Briere scored 6 goals and 16 points in what was a disappointing season for both him and the Flyers. Briere has 283 career points in 364 games with the Flyers. He also has 72 points in 68 career playoff games with the club. He was the club’s leading scorer with 30 points when they went to the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, eventually falling in 6 games to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Each team is given two amnesty buyouts for use in the summer of 2013 or 2014. The Rangers and Canadiens have already used one of their buyouts each on Wade Redden and Scott Gomez respectively.

At this point there are no other confirmed buyouts, however some candidates that have emerged include Brad Richards (a healthy scratch for the Rangers in game 4), Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek, Ilya Bryzgalov, and possibly even Roberto Luongo. Whether these tough decisions are made remains to be seen.

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