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Former Leafs Defenseman Set to be Bought Out: Kyle Dubas Could Reunite With Him in Pittsburgh
Photo credit: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
A former defenseman of the Leafs who was in Toronto while Kyle Dubas was their GM is set to be bought out; T.J. Brodie could be a nice fit in Pittsburgh.
The Chicago Blackhawks will buy out veteran defenseman T.J. Brodie when the first buyout window opens later this week, reports Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Brodie's $3.225 million total compensation for 2025 includes a $2.45 million signing bonus, which won't be touched. But his base salary will be reduced from $775,000 to $517,000, spread out over two years.
The buyout will save the Hawks $517,000 against his $3.75 million cap hit next season, but they'll still carry a $3.23 million cap charge in 2025-26 and a reduced $258,000 penalty in 2026-27.
Brodie, 35, signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal with Chicago last summer following several consistent seasons with Calgary and Toronto.
Though he was initially envisioned as a stabilizing veteran presence for Chicago's young blue line, his game started to decline in Toronto and continued to do so this season.
Brodie was scratched for the final 22 games in a row
He recorded just 10 points in 54 games and was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' final 22 games.
Chicago's defensive depth now includes prospects like Kevin Korchinski, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, and Nolan Allan, so there isn't much room for an older vet.
Brodie will be an unrestricted free agent after being bought out, and a reunion with former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas in Pittsburgh is not out of the question.
Dubas signed Brodie in Toronto in 2020 and may see value in bringing in a familiar, veteran blueliner to solidify the Penguins' bottom pair at a discounted rate.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 19 | 190 ANSWERS Former Leafs Defenseman Set to be Bought Out: Kyle Dubas Could Reunite With Him in Pittsburgh Should Kyle Dubas try and sign T.J. Brodie once the Blackhawks buy him out? | ||
| Yes | 67 | 35.3 % |
| No | 123 | 64.7 % |
| List of polls | ||