Team Europe. Team North America. Team Buyout?
That's what has been suggested by David Booth - whose deal was bought out by the Vancouver Canucks back in 2014 - in advance of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Hey World Cup of Hockey- is it too late to add an All Buyout Team?
— David Booth (@D_Booth7) September 1, 2016
But could it work? Are there are enough players to fill out a 23-man roster?
Let's take a look, using players whose contracts have been bought out since the latest NHL lockout that resulted in a shortened 2013 season.
Goalies
| Player | Buyout Year | Current NHL Team |
|---|---|---|
| Ilya Bryzgalov | 2013 - PHI | UFA |
| Rick DiPietro | 2013 - NYI | Retired |
| Johan Hedberg | 2013 - NJ | Retired |
This is by far the biggest area of weakness, as Ilya Bryzgalov is the only goaltender not officially retired, meaning he would have to play every minute of the tournament.
The interviews, however, would be tremendous.
Defense
| Player | Buyout Year | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Carle | 2016 - TB | Nashville |
| Christian Ehrhoff | 2014 - BUF | UFA |
| Barrett Jackman | 2016 - NSH | UFA |
| Dennis Seidenberg | 2016 - BOS | UFA |
| Brad Stuart | 2016 - COL | UFA |
| Fedor Tyutin | 2016 - CBJ | UFA |
| James Wisniewski | 2016 - CAR | Tampa Bay (PTO) |
The crew would have been quite thin were it not for a handful of players cut loose this offseason.
As it stands, there are enough defensemen who played this past NHL season to at least put out on the ice. Though, mobility may be an issue.
Forwards
| Player | Buyout Year | Current Team |
|---|---|---|
| David Booth | 2014 - VAN | UFA |
| Brad Boyes | 2015 - FLA | UFA |
| Nathan Gerbe | 2013 - BUF | NY Rangers |
| Mikhail Grabovski | 2013 - TOR | NY Islanders |
| Cody Hodgson | 2015 - BUF | UFA |
| P.A. Parenteau | 2015 - MTL | NY Islanders |
| Mike Ribeiro | 2014 - PHX | Nashville |
| Alexander Semin | 2015 - CAR | Mettalurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) |
| Jordin Tootoo | 2014 - DET | Chicago |
| R.J. Umberger | 2016 - PHI | UFA |
| Thomas Vanek | 2016 - MIN | Detroit |
| Antoine Vermette | 2016 - ARI | Anaheim |
| Dainius Zubrus | 2015 - NJ | UFA |
The field of forwards whose contracts have been bought out is well populated, although more than a few candidates were eliminated after having announced their retirements.
Booth was given a nod because, well, the team was his idea in the first place, while the other free agents on the roster could use the opportunity to impress general managers taking in the tournament.
It's hard to say whether this roster could hang with the other eight teams playing in the tournament, but since two have been arbitrarily created for the sole purpose of participating in the World Cup, we think the Buyout All-Stars at least deserve a chance.
