The Buffalo Sabres have placed defenseman Zach Bogosian on waivers, the team announced Friday morning. The purpose of assignment is not for purposes of contract termination, so there are three possible outcomes:
First, an NHL team can claim Bogosian. This would be the ideal situation for the Sabres, and likely for Bogosian as well. A clean break on both sides would allow both the team and the player to move on, give other players more opportunity and give Bogosian a chance somewhere else.
Of course, that doesn’t mean another team will claim him, which leaves two options:
He can clear waivers and be sent to the AHL’s Rochester Americans. This would save the organization about $1 million in cap space, but would not be the ideal situation for the Amerks.
Finally, Bogosian can clear waivers and stay in Buffalo. It doesn’t mean he’ll be in the lineup any more or less than he already has been, and it doesn’t mean the team couldn’t eventually put him back on waivers for purpose of contract termination, but obviously is not the ideal result.
Bogosian has appeared in 19 games this season and 243 total for the Buffalo Sabres since being traded here in 2015. The 29-year-old is in the final year of his current contract and earning $5,142,857. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent in July.