Coyotes buy out final year of Antoine Vermette's contract

The Arizona Coyotes announced Monday that they have bought out the final year of center Antoine Vermette's contract and placed him on waivers. If he clears waivers, he would become an unrestricted free agent.

Vermette signed a two-year $7.5 million contract to return to the Coyotes last summer that included a 'no-move' clause. He had 17 goals, 21 assists and a minus-14 rating in 76 games last season, and his place on the roster would have limited opportunities for the Coyotes to fully incorporate young centers Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak into the mix along with veteran centers Martin Hanzal and Brad Richardson.

"In order to give our team more flexibility, we needed to make this difficult decision," general manager John Chayka said. "This move will provide an opportunity for some of our young, talented players to step up. Antoine is a class act and we thank him for all he did on and off the ice for the Arizona Coyotes organization. We wish him the best in the future."

Vermette, 34, proved to be a valuable asset for the Coyotes at the 2015 trade deadline when they sent him to the Chicago Blackhawks for a first-round pick and defensive prospect Klas Dahlbeck. Vermette won the Stanley Cup with Chicago, and Arizona used the draft pick on Nick Merkley.

In two stints with the Coyotes, Vermette registered 70 goals and 79 assists in 291 games.