Blackhawks place T.J. Brodie on waivers for buyout purposes

The Chicago Blackhawks have placed veteran defenseman T.J. Brodie on waivers as the first step to buying out the remainder of his contract, reports TSN’s Chris Johnston.

Per PuckPedia, Brodie has one year remaining on a two-year pact that carries a $3.75-million average annual value. A buyout would result in a salary cap penalty over the next two seasons counting $3,233,333 in 2025-26 and $258,333 in 2026-27.

Through 54 appearances with the Blackhawks in 2024-25, Brodie put up two goals and eight assists for 10 points coupled with 18 penalty minutes and a minus-18 rating while averaging nearly 16 minutes of time on ice per game. Brodie was a healthy scratch for the final 22 games of the 2024-25 campaign.

A veteran of 962 career contests counting stops with the Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Blackhawks, Brodie has totaled 58 goals and 300 assists for 358 points. With the Flames in 2015-16, the 35-year-old native of Chatham, Ont., reached a career-high 45 points counting six goals and 39 assists coming in 70 games. Brodie has also added five goals and 17 assists for 22 points through 56 posteason outings.

Should Brodie clear waivers and be bought out by the Blackhawks, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Last summer, Brodie agreed to a two-year, $7.5-million deal with the Blackhawks in unrestricted free agency.

Brodie was originally chosen by the Flames in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Draft.

A graduate of the Canadian junior circuit, Brodie took part in four seasons with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit and Barrie Colts from 2006-10 in which he registered 23 goals and 117 assists for 140 points over 216 career contests. Brodie has also tallied seven goals and 50 assists for 57 points over part of three seasons at the AHL level.