via TSN,

The Florida Panthers decided to buy out the remaining year of Filip Kuba's contract on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old blue liner, who signed as an unrestricted free agent last summer, carried a cap hit of $4 million next season.

It is not a compliance buyout, meaning the buyout amount will count against the Panthers' salary cap.

Since the deal included a no-movement clause, Kuba does not have to clear waivers to become an unrestricted free agent.