The NHL salary cap is set to increase, prompting teams to consider buyouts for underperforming players. Candidates include Andre Burakovsky of the Seattle Kraken, whose declining performance and modified no-trade clause complicate potential trades; Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers, whose diminished production may force the team to absorb part of his contract; and Ryan Graves of the Penguins, whose contract structure makes a buyout impractical. Additionally, Marc-Édouard Vlasic of the Sharks faces a potential buyout, depending on the team’s future plans.