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Arbitrator sides with Maple Leafs on Jared Cowen buyout

josh cooper
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 26: Jared Cowen #2 of the Ottawa Senators warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Sabres at Canadian Tire Centre on January 26, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
Jared Cowen of the Ottawa Senators warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Sabres at Canadian Tire Centre on January 26, 2016 in Ottawa. (Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are now officially able to buy out defenseman Jared Cowen.

According to multiple reports, Toronto won their arbitration case against the defenseman they acquired last season from the Ottawa Senators as part of the nine-player trade involving Dion Phaneuf.

The Maple Leafs placed Cowen on unconditional waivers with the intention of buying him out last summer but the team was unable to officially do so due to lingering issues involving a hip injury dating back to 2012 surgery.

Because of the ruling, the Maple Leafs will get a $650,000 salary cap credit for this year, and be charged $750,000 for next season. This also keeps the Maple Leafs at 48 of 50 team contracts.

Cowen, on the other hand, will not get his $4.5 million salary and will receive $750,000 this year and $750,000 next season. The hearing took place in on Oct. 19.

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Almost immediately after the Phaneuf trade, Cowen, who averaged a $3.1 million salary cap hit through 2016-17, was considered a buyout candidate. Before the trade deadline, Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello announced his intention to buy out the 25-year-old blue liner, who was a 2009 first-round draft pick of the Senators.

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Sportsnet explained that Cowen was cleared to play by the team following the trade last season.

Cowen was eventually cleared to play by team doctors and assigned to the American Hockey League on Feb. 27. He was later given permission to leave the Marlies and returned home to Saskatoon in March having never even suited up for one game with the organization.

According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Cowen had hip surgery after the attempted buyout in June and likely won’t be ready to play until February. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the arbitrator ruled Cowen was no evidence Cowen was unfit when Toronto bought him out. Cowen hasn’t played a full season since 2011-12 and last year he played just 37 games and notched four assists.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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