Nunavut’s Jordin Tootoo will soon leave the Red Wings for good

Jordin Tootoo on the first day of his annual cross-Nunavut speaking tour June 16 in Kugluktuk. (PHOTO BY JESSE AJAYI)

Jordin Tootoo’s time with the Detroit Red Wings is officially up.

On June 18, the general manager of the Red Wings placed Tootoo on waivers, for the second time this season, for the purpose of doing a compliance buyout.

“Jordin wants to be back in the NHL. This gives him an opportunity,” Red Wings’ general manager Ken Holland told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

This means Tootoo is put on waivers until June 30. Until then, any team in the National Hockey League may pick up the rest of his contract. Tootoo has a one-year, $1.9 million contract left on his original three-year, $5.7 million deal with the Red Wings.

But if no team picks him up by June 30, then the Red Wings must buy out his $1.9 million contract for a fraction of the price. That buyout does not count against the Red Wings’ annual salary cap.

After that, Tootoo is a free agent and can sign with any team in the NHL, other than the Detroit Red Wings.

Tootoo, 31, was the first player from Nunavut to play in the NHL. He is also the only Inuk NHL player.

According to capgeek.com, Tootoo has racked up total career earnings of $10.6 million.

Tootoo suffered a difficult season with the Red Wings. He only played 11 games with the team before being sent down to the Red Wings’ minor league affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The Red Wings originally placed Tootoo on waivers before reassigning him to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate.

But no other team in the NHL wanted to pick him up.

At the Griffins, he played 51 games in the regular season, scoring six goals and 12 assists. He also racked up 104 minutes in penalties.

Tootoo scored three goals and notched six assists in two seasons with the Red Wings.

Tootoo is currently on his annual northern tour of Nunavut with the Nunasi Corp., promoting positive living to youth.