Darren Dreger has just confirmed the rumor that had been circulating for a few days. The Winnipeg Jets were unable to trade forward Blake Wheeler and will therefore place him on waivers with the intention of buying out his contract today.
Wow!
"The Winnipeg Jets are processing Blake Wheelers buyout. He will be on waivers today. There will be a number of teams with interest in signing the veteran as a free agent, including the Dallas Stars."
He had only one year left on his contract with an annual salary of $8.25 million. Despite showing some signs of slowing down last season, Wheeler still managed to score 16 goals and 39 assists (55 points) in 72 games.
It's safe to say that many teams will be interested in acquiring his services when the free agency market opens tomorrow!