Idiotic, they can't risk the Kunitz situation being a one off especially if they're not getting rid of Scuderi. Scuderi's a 6th/7th dmen getting paid like a 4/5, him getting a regular shift at the NHL level is him playing over his head.
I fully expect Scuderi to be moved for the reason you mentioned. With the youth we have on defense, Dumoulin, Harrington and even Chorney are ready to replace him and are paid a lot less.
I would give them the benefit of the doubt on Kunitz, if they are right about iron deficiency, there are ways to train differently and fix that issue. He had an off year, but I don't think anyone can say he didn't produce, 17 goals and 40 points for $3.85M is pretty fair value. We lack winger depth, what do we have to lose by giving him a chance to have a better season? We can still add another top 6 guy. Kunitz had a down year, but he's still fast, I know some people want him gone, I've been indecisive about it. If he can return to what he was in the previous 3 or 4 seasons, it would end up being a great move to keep him.
Nice to have Bombulie finally report on the big team.
And I doubt too that they will be bought-out.
Kunitz still has some value (and no NTC) and can be traded for a mid-late pick if necessary, but I don't see him going anywhere soon.
Scuderi as usual nobody wants him (at least on HFboards), but a retained salary may help some GM to take a look at him.
They really shouldn't be bought out. While both are older players, they only have 2 years left and both make under $4M. To me, buyouts are used on players who make $6M with 4 or 5 years left. 2 years at $3.35M and $3.85M per year respectively isn't impossible to move in trades.
They can move Scuderi, I believe in giving Kunitz another year, if he fails again, he will have 1 year left, easily movable IMO, if we decide to move him this summer, it still shouldn't be difficult.
