It sounds like Matt Cooke’s time with the Minnesota Wild is over.
According to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, Cooke has been placed on waivers, the move likely a precursor to a buyout.
Cooke has one year remaining on his contract, with a salary of $3 million and cap hit of $2.5 million. According to CapFriendly, the buyout will result in a cap hit of $500,000 next season and $1 million in 2016-17.
The Wild could use the cap relief. Goalie Devan Dubnyk is a pending unrestricted free agent, while forwards Mikael Granlund and Erik Haula are pending RFAs.
Cooke appeared in just 29 games for the Wild in 2014-15 (he had a sports hernia), scoring four times with six assists.
Related: Wild reporter pegs Dubnyk deal at ‘well north of $3 million per’