LA Kings Place Matt Greene On Waivers
- Updated: June 30, 2016
It was reported today from TSN’s and Hockey Hall of Famer Bob McKenzie, that long time Los Angeles Kings’ defenseman, and alternate Captain Matt Greene was placed on waivers today.
Buyout waivers: Korpikoski (EDM), Carle (TB), Boll (CBJ), Seidenberg (BOS), Greene (LA), Jackman (NSH).
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2016
LA Kings’ Insider Jon Rosen added that if Greene was not picked up by another team while on waivers, then the Kings possibly intend to buy out his contract.
LRT: Matt Greene on waivers, likely for the purpose of a buyout, via @TSNBobMcKenzie.
— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) June 30, 2016
If the buyout does happen, then here is the breakdown of the cap hit and relief the Kings would endure, thanks to @CapFriendly.
A Greene buyout will last 4 years with a cap hit of 833k for the #Kings
$1.67M in freed cap space for 16-17 & 17-18 pic.twitter.com/pIx6I47d1G— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 30, 2016
Greene, (along with Jarret Stoll), were traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Kings by GM Dean Lombardi in a brilliant two for one deal for Lubomir Visnovsky on June 29, 2008. Shortly after, he was named the alternate Captain, joining the trinity of leadership for the young and uprising LA Kings, along with Captain Dustin Brown and alternate Captain Anze Kopitar. With his leadership skills and his physical, hard-nosed, stay at home defensive style (with a serious mean streak), Greene helped lead the Kings to two Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014.
Suffering through various injuries and surgeries, it seemed that his rough style of play had finally caught up to the 33-year-old, after losing 166 regular season games since the 2011-12 season. Due to this, the battle hardened warrior had visibly lost a step after returning to play and with the current change of the leadership paradigm in Los Angeles, (with Brown being replaced as Captain), the departure of Greene would be another step towards Dean Lombardi’s mission of changing the current culture within the Kings’ locker room, while providing the Kings with some salary cap relief, and an open roster spot for a younger prospect, (such as Kevin Gravel and/or Derek Forbort (if he re-signs as a RFA). Greene, if he can remain healthy, would be a great addition to a younger team in much need of playoff/championship experience and leadership.
No word yet on who would replace Matt Greene as the alternate Captain, but the odds are that it would be Jeff Carter, due to Carter already wearing the “A” during Greene’s recent injury absences. Time will tell.
If this is truly the end of Matt Greene’s time as a Los Angeles King, we here at CaliSports News would like to say thank you for being the loyal warrior and a beast that was never afraid to put his body on the line, all in the name of the Kings. You made the opposition afraid and weary and kept your teammates in line and that intimidation factor you provided will be sorely missed.
(photo credit to kings.nhl.com)
*UPDATE! According to the LA Kings’ Insider Jon Rosen, Matt Greene has cleared waivers and his contract was not bought out by the Kings. It looks like the Warrior’s watch hasn’t ended yet. Stay Tuned for more updates on this situation.
Via LAK, Greene has cleared waivers. His contract has not been bought out.
— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) July 1, 2016
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