SUNRISE, Fla. - Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the club has bought out the contract of defenseman Keith Yandle . The buyout is in accordance with the NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Keith for all that he's contributed to the Florida Panthers organization and to the South Florida community over the past five seasons," said Zito. "While a decision of this kind is never an easy one to make, we believe that this shift is necessary as we look towards the 2021-22 season and our club's future."