July 6: White has cleared waivers, meaning the Senators can now exercise the buyout.
July 5: The Ottawa Senators have placed Colin White on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout, ending his time with the team. Because White is still just 25, the Senators will be on the hook for just one-third of the salary remaining on his contract. It will result in the following cap charges:
- 2022-23: $875K
- 2023-24: $875K
- 2024-25: $-$625K*
- 2025-26: $875K
- 2026-27: $875K
- 2027-28: $875K
*Because of the way the contract is structured, the team will actually receive a cap credit in the 2024-25 season.
White had three years remaining on the six-year, $28.5MM deal he signed in 2019 after his first full season in the NHL. When he scored 41 points that year, it appeared as though he was going to be a long-term option in the top-six, potentially even as a future first-line center for the team. Things were never the same after that, with just 51 points in the 130 games since, and plenty of time on injured reserve.
Once the buyout goes through tomorrow, the 2015 first-round pick will sit with more than 220 games of NHL experience and no team, meaning he could be a nice buy-low candidate for a contender looking to add skill around the margins. White has put up strong possession numbers his entire career, though that usually hasn’t resulted in actual offensive success. He also has almost no playoff experience, playing in just one postseason game during the team’s 2017 run.
For the Senators, who operate on an internal budget, a move like this represents savings of $10.5MM in actual salary. The cap change isn’t really all that meaningful for this year, though the Senators could very well be pushing up close to the cap ceiling in the next few years if players like Alex Formenton, Joshua Norris, and Tim Stutzle all sign long-term deals as restricted free agents.
Clearing White’s money off the books not only allows the team to spend more on their other young forwards but also opens up a roster spot for some of their prospects to battle over. It had become very clear that White had played his way out of the team’s long-term plans, meaning a split now was the obvious choice. Had they waited until next year, when he will be 26, they would have had to pay two-thirds of the remaining salary instead.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
LOLSens
Good pick up for oilers if around 1 mill a year..
Someone will almost certainly swing at him. Wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a similar deal to what TDA did last offseason
Here comes the Kraken
Low cost/high potential reward pickup for some team.
White might be a solid bottom six pick up for a contender If he can stay healthy.
He was taken with the first the Sens stole, err got in trade from the Sabres in the Lehner deal. Therefore, he should sign with Buffalo.
No, I’m not being serious.
Wouldn’t mind the Bruins bringing him in to compete with Haula, Coyle, Frederick, and Studnicka for the 2nd through 4th line center jobs. I know there’s rumors Krejci could come back but I’ll believe it when it happens. On a one year deal White would both be cheap enough and could easily beat out Freddy and Stud who haven’t shown much of anything to this point.
White’s not a *terrible* player, but he’s sure been picking their pocket the last few seasons. One’s also left to wonder whether Ottawa’s going to try to make a splash in the free agent market. Even with re-signing Joseph, Norris and Formenton, they’ll have plenty left to go after either a Gaudreau or a couple Palats. If they can actually unload Murray as well, the sky’s the limit.
Maybe. But this feels more like them just trying to save the money. I doubt they get near the cap ceiling any time soon.
it’s more about the lineup spot. they likely figure with the saving they can find a better replacement. That deal when he signed it was nuts and just looked worse every month since.
good on Dorion for recognizing the mistake and deciding to move on
Appears once he got his large contract his play went downhill. Therefore seems like a “take the money and run” type of player, so I’d recommend a huge “buyer beware” for any team who signs him
It’s too bad that contract was just too easy to buy out. Of the four guys who are buy out candidates, he is by far the most useful one, but it’s pretty hard to justify not using the buyout on him this offseason. Best of luck where ever he ends up. And thank god we won’t be able to make a deal centred around White for Josh Anderson now!
well a couple are only one year left guys so yes this buyout made the most sense.
Pens need some bottom 6 guys on the cheap
What team doesn’t, white will sign a show-me deal
If he can get that much. White’s a perfectly capable 4th liner, but he isn’t worth more than a million.