Aleksander Barkov buyout

Florida Panthers · C · cap hit $10,000,000 · through 2029-30 · NMC / M-NTC

Bought out in the June 2027 window, Aleksander Barkov would be 31: his team would pay him two thirds of his remaining base salary, $2,000,000, in 6 annual payments of $333,333.

Buyout cost: $2.00M; 2/3 of remaining base salary
Annual payment: $0.33M; over 6 seasons
Cap savings: $1.00M; over the whole term
Cash savings: $1.00M; for the owner

Season	Cap hit before	Cap hit after	Savings	Salary owed	Paid with buyout
2027-28	$10,000,000	$9,333,333	$666,667	$8,000,000	$7,333,333
2028-29	$10,000,000	$9,333,333	$666,667	$7,200,000	$6,533,333
2029-30	$10,000,000	$9,333,333	$666,667	$7,200,000	$6,533,333
2030-31added	—	$333,333	−$333,333	—	$333,333
2031-32added	—	$333,333	−$333,333	—	$333,333
2032-33added	—	$333,333	−$333,333	—	$333,333

The calculation

Remaining base salary        $3,000,000  (3 seasons)
× 2/3 (26 or older)          = $2,000,000
÷ 6 seasons (twice the term)  = $333,333 per season

Cap hit, contract season = cap hit − (base salary − payment)
Cap hit, added season    = payment

The remaining signing bonuses — $19,400,000 — are untouched by a buyout: already promised, they are still owed and still count against the cap. That is why a bonus-heavy contract is nearly buyout-proof.

Aleksander Barkov's profile →Florida Panthers finances →Another player →

How buyouts work

Buyouts happen in the summer window, June 15–30 (or from 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final).
The team pays one third of the remaining base salary if the player is under 26, two thirds if he is 26 or older.
That amount is paid in equal parts over twice the years left on the contract.
Each contract season keeps its cap hit minus that year's savings; each added season carries the payment.
Signing bonuses are still owed and still count against the cap. Performance bonuses and 35+ contracts follow special rules this calculator doesn't cover.

NHL–NHLPA CBA, article 50.9. Contracts: PickALeague records.