"After placing defenseman Cam Barker on unconditional waivers, the Wild expect to buy out his contract today.

"He's been notified," general manager Chuck Fletcher said Thursday. "When he clears waivers tomorrow, he'll be a free agent."

Barker, 25, is scheduled to make $3.25 million in the final season of a three-year contract, but because he's younger than 26, if he clears unconditional waivers the Wild can buy out his contract before free agency begins today at one-third the cost.

He cleared regular waivers Wednesday, the first step necessary.

Barker's departure signals a rocky conclusion to a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 12, 2010, when Minnesota sent the rights to first-round draft pick Nick Leddy to Chicago.

Leddy, 20, who's from Eden Prairie, has become a regular on defense for the Hawks.

Since joining the Wild, Barker has two goals and 10 assists in 71 games through parts of two seasons. He was sidelined by a back injury for all but one game during the final six weeks of the season. "