Bertuzzi, Raycroft clear waivers

Anaheim Ducks forward Todd Bertuzzi cleared unconditional waivers on Saturday, clearing the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent after just one season with the club.

Also clearing waivers was Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Andrew Raycroft. The Leafs placed Raycroft on unconditional waivers Friday and will buy out the final year of his contract.

Raycroft, who finished the year with two wins in 19 appearances, was set to earn $2.2 million next season.

Bertuzzi scored 14 goals and 26 assists in 68 games with a plus-8 rating last season. He signed a two-year, $8-million US contract as a free agent with Anaheim last summer after spending a season marred by injury with Florida and then Detroit.

The Ducks put him on waivers in order to make room under the salary cap for, among other things, trying to re-sign restricted free agent Corey Perry. By going unclaimed, the Ducks will buy Bertuzzi out of his contract at a cost of $2.7 million, which they can spread out over two years.

The Sudbury, Ont., native has 240 goals, 340 assists and 1,147 penalty minutes in 793 career games after being drafted 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in 1993.

Bertuzzi, 33, enjoyed his greatest success with the Vancouver Canucks, with career highs in 2002-03 when he scored 46 goals and 51 assists.

Bertuzzi is also facing a lawsuit filed in the Ontario court system by former Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore. Moore is seeking civil damages from Bertuzzi stemming from a 2004 on-ice assault.

Criminal charges filed against Bertuzzi in Vancouver as a result of the incident led to Bertuzzi pleading guilty and receiving a sentence of one year's probation plus community service.