Cheechoo now a free agent after contract buyout

The Ottawa Senators bought out the contract of Moose Factory’s Jonathan Cheechoo June 29.
Cheechoo was set to earn $3.5 million next season in the final year of his contract. The team was allowed to buy out his contract after placing him on waivers, allowing other teams a chance to pick him up and honour the terms of his contract.
Terms of the buyout were not released by the team.
Cheechoo came to the Senators with winger Milan Michalek and a draft pick in exchange for disgruntled winger Dany Heatley in a Sept. 12, 2009 trade.
In his first and only season in Ottawa, Cheechoo, 29, played in 61 games. He notched five goals and nine assists this season.
“Jonathan is a quality person and hockey player,” Senators general manager Bryan Murray said to NHL.com. “We hoped that things would have worked out with the Senators. In the best interest of us both, we have decided to move on. We wish him all the best.”
Cheechoo’s best years came with the San Jose Sharks in 2005-2007.
He won Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer with 56. The following year he notched 37 goals.
But since then, he has not played more than 70 games in a season because of injuries.