The Rangers, stuck in a tough salary cap situation, bought out the contract on defender Kevin Shattenkirk on Wednesday, according to the New York Post. The news was later confirmed by Shattenkirk's agent.
Shattenkirk, 30, spent the past two seasons with the Rangers after signing a four-year deal with the team worth $26.65 million during the summer of 2017.
Prior to the move, the Rangers were over the NHL's $81.5 million salary cap ceiling. The buyout saves New York just over $5 million on the cap and now puts them under the league's spending limit.
The New Rochelle native had an underwhelming tenure with the Rangers. His first season with the team, he was limited to 46 games played after suffering a knee injury during training camp. Last season he remained healthy, but the offensively-minded defender who played in 73 games registered just two goals and 28 points.
The Rangers shelled out money to sign forward Artemi Panarin and defender Jacob Trouba this offseason, which played a role in the Rangers' salary cap troubles. Combined, the two will eat up $19.5 million of the team's salary cap next season.