NHL Teams Start Unloading Overpriced Veterans

And so it begins. The Philadelphia Flyers are first out the block in the 2005 NHL Swap Meat Derby. The Flyers have bought out a pair of veteran forwards, Tony Amonte and John Leclair. All told, the two men will be paid over $7 million not to play for Philadelphia this season.

Under rules laid out in the new collective agreement, teams have until July 29 to buy out contracts without having the number count against this season's salary cap.

TSN.ca has a useful Daily Transaction Log, following all the player movement leading up to the 2005-06 NHL season.