Ville Leino, David Booth put on waivers: NHL transactions
Aaron Rome bought out by Stars
Buffalo Sabres forward Ville Leino and Vancouver forward David Booth were placed on waivers on Tuesday, the necessary first step towards a buyout.
Booth, 29, was due to make $4.75 million US next season, with a cap hit $500,000 less than that.
Booth scored over 20 goals on three separate occasions for the Panthers, but managed just 26 total in 134 regular season games with the Canucks.
"We wish David all the success in the future and thank him for his contributions with the Canucks," general manager Jim Benning said in a statement.
After Booth clears waivers, the Canucks can buy out his contract by paying him two-thirds of what he's owed over a span of two years. In a compliance buyout, the amount won't count against Vancouver's salary cap.
Leino was at the midway point of a six-year deal worth $27 million US.
He received the deal from the Sabres after a career season with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010-11, when he scored 19 goals and 53 points.
The 30-year-old Finn would go on to score just 10 goals and 36 assists total in 137 games with Buffalo, missing nearly the entire 2012-13 season due to injury.
Leino's payout will amount to nearly $9 million over a span of six years.
The Dallas Stars, meanwhile, confirmed on Tuesday that a compliance buyout would be used for Aaron Rome after the defenceman was placed on waivers the previous day.
Rome, 30, earned one assist in 25 games with Dallas during the 2013-14 regular season.
Dallas will pay out just over $1.05 million US to the veteran, spread out over two seasons.