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Sharks to use compliance buyout on Havlat

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The rumors out of San Jose were confirmed on Friday at the NHL Draft, as CSN Bay Area confirmed the Sharks will use a compliance buyout on the final year of Martin Havlat’s contract.

Wilson earlier said Havlat wouldn’t be back next season, but would try to facilitate a trade rather than amensty the deal.

Havlat, 30, has one year left on his six-year, $30 million contract signed with the Wild in 2009. The buyout will free San Jose of his $5 million cap hit, but the club will pay Havlat $1M in 2014-15 and $2M in 2015-16.

The buyout marks the end of Havlat’s disappointing tenure with the Sharks. Acquired in 2011 as part of the deal that sent Dany Heatley to Minnesota, the Czech forward suffered through a myriad of injuries and never appeared in more than 48 games in a single season. That said, Havlat’s still been a relatively effective scorer -- he had 27 points in 39 games during the 2011-12 campaign, and 12 goals and 22 points last year.

For San Jose, the move kicks off what could be a major summer rebuild. The club has already dealt away Dan Boyle and re-signed Alex Stalock to challenge Antti Niemi for the No. 1 goalie gig; Brent Burns will be moved back to defense and both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have seen their names come up in trade rumors.

Per CSN Bay Area, the Sharks won’t use their other compliance buyout.