The Oilers have placed forward Benoit Pouliot on unconditional waivers with the purposes of buying out his contract.

Pouliot had two years left at a salary-cap hit of $4 million. By buying out Pouliot, Edmonton saves $2.67 million against the cap the next two years.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are buying out the final two years of veteran forward Scott Hartnell's contract.

Hartnell, 35, who had 13 goals and 24 assists last season, had a cap hit of $4.75 million. According to CapFriendly.com, the hit after the buyout will be $1.5 million next season, $3 million in 2018-19 and $1.5 million in the next two years.

The Dallas Stars have announced their buy out of the final year of goalie Antti Niemi's contract, a plan that will spread the $3 million payment over two seasons for an annual salary cap hit of $1.5 million.

Niemi was due to make $4.5 million coming off a disappointing season in which he was 12-12-4 with a 3.3 goals-against average in 37 games. The ninth-year player became expendable after Ben Bishop was acquired in a trade that will likely make him the starter, with Kari Lehtonen as the backup.

The San Jose Sharks have issued qualifying offers to forwards Chris Tierney, Marcus Sorensen and Barclay Goodrow and will retain their negotiating rights as restricted free agents.

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed goalie Troy Grosenick to a two-year contract extension.

General manager Doug Wilson announced on Monday the deal to keep the AHL's top goaltender under contract. Grosenick had been eligible to be an unrestricted free agent in July.