Phistar

TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs plan to buy out forward Darcy Tucker.

Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher informed Tucker of the decision on Tuesday. The player's agent, Carlos Sosa, told The Canadian Press the team would make the move official Wednesday, and Tucker would be an unrestricted free agent 24 hours later.

"We've been ready for this for a while. It is a business," Sosa said.

Tucker, a 12-year veteran, has three years left on his contract and will be owed two-thirds of it -- or $6 million -- paid back over a six-year term by the Leafs. He signed a four-year extension with the team in February 2007 and had 18 goals and 34 points last season.

The Maple Leafs also put forward Kyle Wellwood and goalie Andrew Raycroft on waivers, possibly paving the way for their exit.

Wellwood had 21 points and a minus-12 rating in 59 games last season while earning $950,000 in the last year of his contract. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, it's expected the Leafs will not tender him a qualifying offer, which will make him an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Raycroft appeared in only 19 games last season after losing his starting job to Vesa Toskala. Raycroft went 2-9-5 with a 3.92 goals-against average and .876 save percentage. He earned $2 million and has a year left on his deal at $2.2 million.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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Canadaleaf

being a big leafs fan i was suprised saddened and happy at the same time
and this is why
wellword-suprised he is injury proned but he was young talent on the team
tucker-saddened but they needed to drop cap room and he was overpaid
raycroft-happy and good riddance should have kept tukka rask

wellwood got picked up by the canucks btw and also the leafs i have heard have given ny rangers permission to talk to sundin

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