Kraken, Lightning Place Veleno, Sheary on Waivers for Buyouts

The Seattle Kraken have placed forward Joe Veleno on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out the final year of his contract, which carries a $2.275 million cap hit. Veleno, 25, was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade involving Andre Burakovsky, but the Kraken saw him as surplus given their depth at center and are seeking to free up cap space, saving them roughly $4.7 million for the next season. Because Veleno is under 26, the buyout costs the Kraken only one-third of his remaining salary, resulting in a manageable cap hit spread over two seasons. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning placed veteran forward Conor Sheary on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract, allowing him to pursue other NHL opportunities; Sheary had one year left on a $2 million contract but was limited to five games last season due to cap constraints. Both players will become unrestricted free agents if unclaimed during the waiver period, which opens the door for new contract negotiations. These moves reflect ongoing NHL roster adjustments ahead of the new season as teams manage salary caps and player roles.