The New York Rangers are buying out the final year of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's contract to end his 15-year career with the team, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by the New York Post.

Lundqvist, 38, will become an unrestricted free agent, joining a crowded market of veteran goaltenders when the signing period begins on Oct. 9.

The Ottawa Senators have told longtime goaltender Craig Anderson they will not re-sign him in free agency, general manager Pierre Dorion announced Wednesday.

"He's the best goalie we've ever had," Dorion told reporters, according to TSN. "It's time for us to take another direction, and we thank him for everything he did."

Mikko Koivu's extraordinary career with the Minnesota Wild is over.

General manager Bill Guerin said Friday the team will not resign Koivu, whose contract is expiring.

Koivu, 37, is the only full-time captain the club has had -- he was appointed in 2009 after the role was rotated monthly over the first nine years of the franchise. He is the all-time Wild leader in games, assists, points and several other categories,

The NHL on Friday moved its draft up to Oct. 6-7 and set an Oct. 9 start for free agency.

The first round of the draft will be Oct. 6, with the New York Rangers on the clock and Alexis Lafreniere the consensus top option for the No. 1 pick. The remaining rounds will take place Oct. 7, and all the drafting will be done virtually.

Free agency begins at noon Eastern two days later. And after the league and NHL Players' Association agreed to a collective bargaining agreement extension, there won't be an interview period in the days leading to the start of the free-agent frenzy.