Yesterday, it was announced that the Los Angeles Kings had begun the buyout process for veteran defenseman Matt Greene. However, reports are now coming out that Greene may not be bought out and the move was more of a last ditch effort for the Kings to take one last run at re-signing Milan Lucic.
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun first reported the motive behind the Greene move.
LA Kings took one last shot at Milan Lucic yesterday, which is why Matt Greene was placed on buyout waivers. But didn’t come close on Lucic
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2016
NHL free agency opens today and according to GeneralFanager.com, the Kings would free up $1.66 million each of the next two seasons if they were to buy out Greene. Ultimately, the move would have freed up close to another $2 million the team could have thrown Lucic’s way. But it looks like the Kings are officially out of the running for Lucic.
Now, what does this mean for Greene? The deadline to start the buyout process for any player came and went yesterday, which explains why the move had to be made yesterday. The move to start the process with Greene may have been a move with the only intentions of freeing up a little extra cash for Lucic.
So it’s possible Kings actually do not buy out Greene after all. Stay tuned.
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2016
Now with Lucic all but gone, will the Kings continue Greene’s buyout and use that extra cash to go out and court someone to fill Lucic’s shoes? Or will Los Angeles backtrack on the move? It seems Greene’s future in Los Angeles is very much up in the air at the moment.
Greene, an alternate captain for the Kings, underwent shoulder surgery in December, which limited him to playing in only three games last season.
