Two days after trading Alexandre Texier to the St. Louis Blues, new President and General Manager Don Waddell continued the Columbus Blue Jackets purge.
As first reported by Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, the Blue Jackets intend to buy out the final year of defenseman Adam Boqvist's contract.
Told #CBJ will place D Adam Boqvist on waivers later today. If he clears, the Blue Jackets will buy out the final year of his contract.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 30, 2024
Boqvist was scheduled to make $3.2 million in 2024-25 with a salary cap hit of $2.6 million. With a buyout, the Blue Jackets will owe him $533,334 in each of the next two seasons.
The move saves the team $2.1 million.
The 23-year-old Boqvist played in 133 games with the Blue Jackets, scoring 17 goals and adding 39 assists. Injuries derailed him while in Columbus, with Boqvist missing at least 30 games in all three seasons with the club.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets intend to let Alex Nylander walk away as well, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
In addition to Adam Boqvist buyout, Columbus not expected to qualify Alex Nylander
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 30, 2024
Nylander, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Emil Bemstrom in February, was red-hot for the Blue Jackets in his 23 games with Columbus. He scored 11 goals and added four assists for 15 points. He had three multi-goal games with the team, including a hat trick in just his fifth game with the team — a record for fastest hat trick in club history.
The 26-year-old winger made $775,000 this season and was a restricted free agent. By not qualifying him, Nylander now becomes an unrestricted free agent and able to sign with any team.
The team made the news official this afternoon, as well as announcing that defensemen Jake Bean and Marcus Bjork, as well as forward Tyler Angle, did not receive qualifying offers.
The following players did not receive qualifying offers and will become unrestricted free agents on July 1:
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) June 30, 2024
Tyler Angle (C)
Jake Bean (D)
Marcus Bjork (D)
Alex Nylander (LW/RW)
In addition, Adam Boqvist (D) has been placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout.
All players will become unrestricted free agents on July 1st.
