Brad Richards' contract was bought out by the Rangers, ESPN reports.

Richards' contract has been bought out by the Rangers, ESPN reports.

Analysis:

The Rangers will buy out the six remaining years on the nine-year, $60 million deal Richards signed in 2011. Under the current CBA, teams are given two special buyout provisions that do not count toward the salary cap, and Richards accounts for the Rangers' second buyout after the team used one on defenseman Wade Redden in 2013. The 34-year-old Richards will hit free agency after recording 51 points and playing in all 82 games this season.