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Columbus Blue Jackets buy out Scott Hartnell, making him a free agent

Flyers officials did not respond when asked to comment on whether they would consider bringing back the fan favorite.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have bought out the final two years of 35-year-old forward Scott Hartnell’s contract.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have bought out the final two years of 35-year-old forward Scott Hartnell’s contract.Read moreMark Humphrey/AP

Former Flyer Scott Hartnell was bought out of his contract by Columbus on Thursday. Flyers officials did not respond when asked to comment on whether they would consider bringing Hartnell back to Philadelphia.

The left winger scored 13 goals for Columbus last season, his third with the Blue Jackets.

In an Inquirer/Daily News Twitter poll that had more than 1,400 respondents, 59 percent said the Flyers should not re-sign the 35-year-old Hartnell, who scored 28 and 23 goals, respectively, in his first two seasons with the Blue Jackets.

Hartnell spent six seasons with the Flyers, and had a career-high 37 goals in 2011-12.

In Hextall's first trade as the Flyers' GM in 2014, he dealt Hartnell to Columbus for R.J. Umberger and a fourth-round pick (later sent to Los Angeles) in the 2015 draft.

In his career, Hartnell has 314 goals and 369 assists for 683 points, along with 1,727 penalty minutes and a plus-69 rating in 1,187 games. He was Nashville's No. 1 pick (sixth overall) in the 2000 draft.