June 24, 2008 | 10:00pm ET
Leafs wave goodbye to Tucker TheFourthPeriod.com
Darcy Tucker will be looking for a new team to play with this summer, as the Toronto Maple Leafs have gone ahead to buy out the remainder of his contract.
According to TSN, the Leafs informed Tucker of their decision Tuesday afternoon.
"The decision is always difficult when you are dealing with a good person," Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher told TSN. "We wish him well."
Tucker, 33, has three-years left on his current contract and the Leafs will be responsible for paying him two-thirds ($6 million) over six years.
TSN reports Tucker had the option of going on waivers, because he has a no-movement clause, and elected not to. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Earlier today, the Leafs placed forward Kyle Wellwood and goalie Andrew Raycroft on waivers, and neither is expected back next season.
I expected to hear about this in the coming days, but the Leafs want to clean house sooner rather than later. With Tucker, Kyle Wellwood and Andrew Raycroft off of next season's roster, the Leafs will have a different looking team come October. A number of changes are still expected, as the team could trade the likes of Jason Blake and Pavel Kubina. Stay tuned!
