Well, it was just a matter of time. In order to accommodate the extra salary the B's have taken on this offseason, the team placed Glen "Muzz" Murray on unconditional waivers. It's the first step in the process of buying a player out of their current contract.

After signing Michael Ryder (3 years, $12 million) as a free agent and with Dennis Wideman expected to get a sizable raise (4 years, $15.5 million) as a result of winning his arbitration case, the B's were pretty well over cap. Murray, whose abilities have been increasingly limited over the past few years, was the most likely candidate to go given his age, high salary, and relative ineffectiveness. If the Bruins are able to complete the buyout (which depends on whether or not Murray is claimed by another team), they'll see their total payroll come down to $55,469,999 thanks to a $2,766,667 reduction in salary. The salary cap has been set at $57 million for the 2008-09 season.

It's a sad way to see the Bruins' elder statesman and one of the true class acts of the NHL go, but go he must. Muzz's best year came in 2002-03 when he finished with 92 points (44 goals, 48 assists), but since then he's been steadily declining every season. With just 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) last season, Glen's production can be pretty easily replicated at a substantially cheaper price. What may have very well sealed his fate was the fact that he didn't score a single point in 7 postseason games.

He'll likely have no trouble catching on with another team after being bought out; I just hope he doesn't somehow end up on the Habs.