I have a player who has a mutual option for next season; there is no way I will pick up my end.  

If I release this player, I think that I will automatically be docked for my 25% next season, but will not owe the full salary; the only thing I think I will lose is the right to re-sign the player on the day after budget day.  Am I correct?  

Also, the reason I might want to release such a player is to clear out next season's salary to re-sign other FA's before rollover.  Would this release do that-- would my salary commitment for next season instantly drop by 75% of the value of the option year salary?

I'm pretty sure you are right on both counts.

I've never done it because I don't want to get stuck paying salary but I know owners do it.   And I think they'd stop if they were paying full salary.

I know, without a doubt, that releasing a player automatically declines the option.
The only thing I am a little uncertain about is the last part, but I can't think of a scenario where that wouldn't also be true.

The more I think about it, the more certain I am that it will work exactly as described (ie. instantly drop by 75% of the value of the option year salary).

Options are accepted/declined at rollover (by players), and after rollover (by owners).  Releasing a player early wouldn't decline the option NOW, but it would defer an automatic owner decline to rollover.

I would be surprised if you got the future salary relief now.

That actually makes a lot of sense...

But, what if someone signs him beforehand

Posted by bfkfraser on 4/7/2015 4:43:00 PM (view original):
But, what if someone signs him beforehand

If someone claims him then yeah, you'd be off the hook for any remaining salary this season as well as the full cost of the option year.

Posted by mchales_army on 4/7/2015 5:26:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bfkfraser on 4/7/2015 4:43:00 PM (view original):
But, what if someone signs him beforehand

If someone claims him then yeah, you'd be off the hook for any remaining salary this season as well as the full cost of the option year.

Not if the player is released, which is what the original post is talking about.

What causes a player to decline an option? I've never seen it before.

Posted by hockey1984 on 4/8/2015 3:38:00 PM (view original):
What causes a player to decline an option? I've never seen it before.

I was scouring past messages ... awhile back someone posted about an instance where they assigned a player to HI-A, and the player declined their mutual option at rollover. I am planning to try that later in season with current team to see if works.

Posted by dedelman on 4/6/2015 9:44:00 PM (view original):
I have a player who has a mutual option for next season; there is no way I will pick up my end.  

If I release this player, I think that I will automatically be docked for my 25% next season, but will not owe the full salary; the only thing I think I will lose is the right to re-sign the player on the day after budget day.  Am I correct?  

Also, the reason I might want to release such a player is to clear out next season's salary to re-sign other FA's before rollover.  Would this release do that-- would my salary commitment for next season instantly drop by 75% of the value of the option year salary?

This worked exactly as I had hoped.  I immediately freed up enough of next season's salary cap to re-sign two other free agents.