NHL waiver draft explained

The NHL waiver draft was an annual draft held by the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1977 to 2003. A reworked version of the NHL intra-league draft, the waiver draft was created to help address the league's competitive balances issues and the financial issues some of the expansion teams added in the preceding ten years were undergoing.^[1] It was not held during the 1979–80 and 1991–92 seasons due to the 1979 merger with the World Hockey Association and the 1991 NHL dispersal and expansion drafts, respectively. It was discontinued as a result of the collective bargaining agreement that was reached to end the 2004–05 NHL lockout.^[2] Over the course of 25 waiver drafts, 231 selections were made and 240 players total changed teams.

Rules

The waiver draft was held within a week of the start of the regular season. A few days prior to the waiver draft each NHL club would be required to turn in a list of players to protect from selection. First-year players were exempt from selection, but in later editions of the waiver draft this exemption was changed to players under a certain number of professional hockey seasons played and below a minimum number of NHL games played.^{[1] [3]}

The order of the waiver draft was the reverse of the previous season's standings, the first round always being limited to non-playoff teams. Once a team claimed an unprotected player from another team, that team would be required to drop a player from their protection list and the other team's choice of compensation would be a cash payment (a sliding scale varying from player to player) or claiming the dropped player.^{[1] [3]}

The number of players a team could lose in the waiver draft was set at three (later two), which would increase by the number of claims made against other teams. By default, team's could only lose a maximum of one goaltender, unless they opted to offer more than one.^{[1] [3]}

The waiver draft concluded when a round was completed with no selections by any team.^[3]

Drafts

1977

The 1977 NHL waiver draft was held on October 10, 1977. Three selections were made.^{[4] [5]} Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[4]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash

1978

The 1978 NHL waiver draft was held on October 9, 1978. Five selections were made and six players total changed teams.^[6] Protection lists were released three days prior to the draft.^[7]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3			Detroit Red Wings	cash
	4		Detroit Red Wings		cash
2	5		New York Rangers	Montreal Canadiens	claim: Dan Newman

1980

The 1980 NHL waiver draft was held on October 8, 1980. Five selections were made.^[8] Protection lists were released a day prior to the draft.^[9]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3			Boston Bruins	cash
	4			Quebec Nordiques	cash
	5			Edmonton Oilers	cash

1981

The 1981 NHL waiver draft was held on October 5, 1981. 13 selections were made.^{[10] [11]} Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^[12]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4				cash
	5			Colorado Rockies	cash
	6			Montreal Canadiens	cash
	7			Hartford Whalers	cash
	8				cash
2	9		Winnipeg Jets	Montreal Canadiens	cash
	10		Hartford Whalers	Buffalo Sabres	cash
	11			Buffalo Sabres	cash
3	12		Los Angeles Kings	St. Louis Blues	cash
4	13		Montreal Canadiens	Hartford Whalers	cash

1982

The 1982 NHL waiver draft was held on October 4, 1982. Seven selections were made and nine players total changed teams.^{[13] [14]} Protection lists were released three days prior to the draft.^[15]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2			Minnesota North Stars	cash
	3				cash
	4			St. Louis Blues	claim: Tim Bothwell
2	5		New Jersey Devils	New York Rangers	claim: Graeme Nicolson
3	6		New Jersey Devils		cash
4	7				cash

1983

The 1983 NHL waiver draft was held on October 3, 1983. Eleven selections were made.^{[16] [17]} Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^{[18] [19]}

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4		St. Louis Blues		cash
	5			Hartford Whalers	cash
	6			Quebec Nordiques	cash
2	7		Hartford Whalers	St. Louis Blues	cash
	8		St. Louis Blues	Montreal Canadiens	cash
	9			Montreal Canadiens	cash
	10		Quebec Nordiques	Buffalo Sabres	cash
3	11		Hartford Whalers	St. Louis Blues	cash

1984

The 1984 NHL waiver draft was held on October 9, 1984. Nine selections were made and ten players total changed teams.^{[20] [21]} Protection lists were released four days prior to the draft.^[22]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2			St. Louis Blues	cash
	3				claim: Terry Martin
	4				cash
	5		St. Louis Blues		cash
	6			Quebec Nordiques	cash
	7		Edmonton Oilers		cash
2	8		Pittsburgh Penguins		cash
	9		Hartford Whalers	Edmonton Oilers	cash

1985

The 1985 NHL waiver draft was held on October 7, 1985. Nine selections were made.^[23] Protection lists were released three days prior to the draft.^[24]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4				cash
	5				cash
2	6		Pittsburgh Penguins		cash
	7			New York Islanders	cash
3	8		Pittsburgh Penguins	Chicago Black Hawks	cash
4	9			St. Louis Blues	cash

1986

The 1986 NHL waiver draft was held on October 6, 1986. Seven selections were made.^[25] Protection lists were released three days prior to the draft.^[26]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2			New York Islanders	cash
2	3		Los Angeles Kings	Buffalo Sabres	cash
	4		Buffalo Sabres		cash
3	No selections during round
4	5			Buffalo Sabres	cash
	6				cash
	7				cash

1987

The 1987 NHL waiver draft was held on October 5, 1987. 17 selections were made and 19 players total changed teams.^{[27] [28]}

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4			Edmonton Oilers	cash
	5				cash
2	6		New Jersey Devils		cash
3	No selections during round
4	7				cash
	8			Vancouver Canucks	cash
	9				claim: Doug Wickenheiser
	10		Boston Bruins		cash
5	11		Buffalo Sabres	Philadelphia Flyers	claim: David Fenyves
	12		New Jersey Devils	Chicago Blackhawks	cash
	13	Doug Wickenheiser	Vancouver Canucks	Hartford Whalers	claim: Brent Peterson
	14		Quebec Nordiques	New York Rangers	claim: Richard Zemlak
6	15	Richard Zemlak	Minnesota North Stars	New York Rangers	cash
	16		Los Angeles Kings	New York Rangers	^[29]
	17		Detroit Red Wings	Edmonton Oilers

1988

The 1988 NHL waiver draft was held on October 3, 1988. 18 selections were made.^{[30] [31]}

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4			Edmonton Oilers	cash
2	5		Minnesota North Stars	Hartford Whalers	cash
	6		Vancouver Canucks		cash
	7		Pittsburgh Penguins	Minnesota North Stars	cash
3	8			New Jersey Devils	cash
	9		Edmonton Oilers		cash
4	10		Minnesota North Stars		cash
	11		Pittsburgh Penguins	Edmonton Oilers	claim: Dave Hunter
	12	Dave Hunter		Edmonton Oilers	cash
5	13		Los Angeles Kings		cash
	14		Buffalo Sabres		cash
	15			New Jersey Devils	cash
	16		Edmonton Oilers	Buffalo Sabres	cash
6	17			Philadelphia Flyers	cash
	18		Los Angeles Kings	Toronto Maple Leafs	cash

1989

The 1989 NHL waiver draft was held on October 2, 1989. Eight selections were made.^[32] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[33]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4				cash
2	5				cash
	6		Vancouver Canucks	Chicago Blackhawks	cash
	7				cash
	8			Philadelphia Flyers	cash

1990

The 1990 NHL waiver draft was held on October 1, 1990. Eight selections were made.^[34]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
2	4		Quebec Nordiques	Washington Capitals	cash
	5			Quebec Nordiques	cash
3	6		Quebec Nordiques		cash
	7				cash
	8		St. Louis Blues	Chicago Blackhawks	cash

1992

The 1992 NHL waiver draft was held on October 4, 1992. Eight selections were made.^{[35] [36]}

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4				cash
	5				cash
2	6		San Jose Sharks		cash
	7		Philadelphia Flyers	Quebec Nordiques	cash
	8				cash

1993

The 1993 NHL waiver draft was held on October 3, 1993. Six selections were made.^[37] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[38]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3			New York Rangers	cash
2	4			New York Rangers	cash
	5				cash
3	6			Vancouver Canucks	cash

1994

The 1994 NHL waiver draft was held on January 18, 1995. Due to the 1994–95 NHL lockout, the waiver draft was postponed until January. 17 selections were made.^[39] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[40]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
2	4		Hartford Whalers		cash
	5		Edmonton Oilers		cash
	6		St. Louis Blues		cash
	7				cash
	8				cash
3	9		Winnipeg Jets	St. Louis Blues	cash
	10		Pittsburgh Penguins	Ottawa Senators	cash
4	11		Calgary Flames	Winnipeg Jets	cash
	12		Pittsburgh Penguins	Winnipeg Jets	cash
5	13			Calgary Flames	cash
	14			Pittsburgh Penguins	claim: Micah Aivazoff
6	15	Micah Aivazoff	Edmonton Oilers	Pittsburgh Penguins	cash
	16		St. Louis Blues		cash
	17		Pittsburgh Penguins	New York Rangers	cash

1995

The 1995 NHL waiver draft was held on October 2, 1995. Eight selections were made.^[41]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
2	2				cash
	3				cash
	4				cash
	5				cash
3	6		Ottawa Senators		cash
	7		Buffalo Sabres		cash
4	8		New York Islanders	Buffalo Sabres	cash

1996

The 1996 NHL waiver draft was held on September 30, 1996. Nine selections were made.^{[42] [43]} Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[42]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
2	3		New York Islanders		cash
	4			Philadelphia Flyers	cash
	5			New York Islanders	cash
	6			Vancouver Canucks	cash
	7				cash
3	8		Vancouver Canucks	Pittsburgh Penguins	cash
	9				cash

1997

The 1997 NHL waiver draft was held on September 28, 1997. Nine selections were made.^[44] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[45]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
2	4		Boston Bruins		cash
	5			New York Islanders	cash
	6				cash
	7				cash
	8				cash
	9		New Jersey Devils		cash

1998

The 1998 NHL waiver draft was held on October 5, 1998. Nine selections were made.^{[46] [47]} Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^[48]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4			Edmonton Oilers	cash
	5				cash
2	6				cash
	7				cash
3	8			St. Louis Blues	cash
	9		Pittsburgh Penguins		cash

1999

The 1999 NHL waiver draft was held on September 27, 1999. Ten selections were made.^[49] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[50]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3			Ottawa Senators	cash
	4				cash
	5				cash
	6				cash
2	7		Atlanta Thrashers	New Jersey Devils	cash
	8		Vancouver Canucks		cash
	9		St. Louis Blues	Atlanta Thrashers	cash
3	10				cash

2000

The 2000 NHL waiver draft was held on September 29, 2000. Five selections were made.^[51] Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^{[52] [53]}

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
2	4		Minnesota Wild		cash
	5			Minnesota Wild	cash

2001

The 2001 NHL waiver draft was held on September 28, 2001. Eights selections were made and nine players total changed teams.^{[54] [55]} Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^{[56] [57]}

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4				claim: Phil Housley
	5				cash
2	6				cash
	7				cash
	8		Vancouver Canucks		cash

2002

The 2002 NHL waiver draft was held on October 4, 2002. Six selections were made.^{[58] [59]} Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^[60]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				cash
	3				cash
	4		Nashville Predators	Montreal Canadiens	cash
	5				cash
	6				cash

2003

The 2003 NHL waiver draft was held on October 3, 2003. 18 selections were made and 20 players total changed teams.^{[61] [62]} Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^[63]

Round	Pick	Player	Claimed by	Claimed from	Compensation
1	1				cash
	2				claim: Petr Tenkrat
	3				cash
	4				cash
	5			Vancouver Canucks	cash
	6				cash
2	7		Nashville Predators		cash
	8		Atlanta Thrashers	New York Rangers	cash
	9		Montreal Canadiens		cash
	10			Colorado Avalanche	cash
	11				cash
	12			New York Rangers	cash
3	13		Florida Panthers		cash
	14		Atlanta Thrashers	New York Rangers	cash
	15		New York Rangers	Buffalo Sabres	cash
	16		Washington Capitals	Ottawa Senators	claim: Glen Metropolit
4	17			Florida Panthers	cash
	18		New York Rangers		cash

See also

• Waivers (NHL)

External links

• Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia

Notes and References

1. Web site: Parsons . Mark . The NHL Waiver Draft – Origins and The Rules . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 27, 2023 . November 8, 2013.
2. Web site: Collective Bargaining Agreement FAQ . NHL.com . July 14, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327154125/https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/collective-bargaining-agreement-faq/c-492302 . March 27, 2023 . July 22, 2005 . Waiver Draft – Will there continue to be a Waiver Draft? The CBA does not provide for the continuation of the Waiver Draft..
3. Web site: 1999 NHL Waiver Draft . www.hockeynut.com . March 27, 2023.
4. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1977 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 8, 2013.
5. Web site: The Daily Herald from Arlington Heights, Illinois on October 11, 1977 · Page 31 . Newspapers.com . March 26, 2023 . October 11, 1977.
6. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1978 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 8, 2013.
7. Web site: Page 189 of 7 Oct 1978 Issue of Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg, Manitoba . newspaperarchive.com . March 26, 2023 . October 7, 1978.
8. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1980 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 8, 2013.
9. Web site: National Hockey League clubs Tuesday released the names of... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 7, 1980.
10. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1981 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 8, 2013.
11. Web site: Sabres Draft Yvon Lambert . The New York Times . March 26, 2023 . October 6, 1981.
12. Web site: The following players were left unprotected for Monday's National... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 3, 1981.
13. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1982 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 8, 2013.
14. Web site: Mifflin . Lawrie . Rangers Acquire a Fourth Olympian . The New York Times . March 26, 2023 . October 5, 1982.
15. Web site: Players left unprotected and available for Monday's 1982 NHL... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 1, 1982.
16. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1983 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 30, 2013.
17. Web site: The following are the selections from Monday's NHL waiver... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 3, 1983.
18. Web site: The 21 NHL teams have submitted their lists of... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 1, 1983.
19. Web site: Following is the list of players left unprotected for... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 1, 1983.
20. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1984 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 30, 2013.
21. Web site: NHL waiver draft At Montreal, Oct. 9, 1984 - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 9, 1984.
22. Web site: The following is a team by team list of... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 5, 1984.
23. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1985 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 30, 2013.
24. Web site: Following is a team-by-team listing of NHL players protected... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 4, 1985.
25. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1986 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 30, 2013.
26. Web site: Page 93 of 4 Oct 1986 Issue of Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg, Manitoba . newspaperarchive.com . March 26, 2023 . October 4, 1986.
27. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1987 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 30, 2013.
28. Web site: Veteran left winger Charlie Simmer headed a list of... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 5, 1987.
29. News: NHL waiver draft . Detroit Free Press . 49 . October 6, 1987 . July 31, 2024 . Newspapers.com . registration.
30. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1988 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 30, 2013.
31. Web site: The 18 players selected Monday in the annual NHL... - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 4, 1988.
32. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1989 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 30, 2013.
33. Web site: Page 11 of 2 Oct 1989 Issue of Madison Wisconsin State Journal in Madison, Wisconsin . newspaperarchive.com . March 26, 2023 . October 2, 1989.
34. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1990 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . November 30, 2013.
35. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1992 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
36. Web site: Tampa Bay takes Creighton in NHL waiver draft - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . October 4, 1992.
37. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1993 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 26, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
38. Web site: Page 29 of 3 Oct 1993 Issue of Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg, Manitoba . newspaperarchive.com . March 26, 2023 . October 3, 1993.
39. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1994-95 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
40. Web site: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 18, 1995 · Page 33 . Newspapers.com . March 25, 2023 . January 18, 1995.
41. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1995-96 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
42. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1996 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
43. Web site: Sports Briefs . Deseret News . March 26, 2023 . October 1, 1996.
44. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1997 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
45. Web site: 1997 NHL waiver draft rules . www.hockeynut.com . March 25, 2023.
46. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1998 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
47. Web site: Ciger Goes No. 1 In Waiver Draft . www.cbsnews.com . March 26, 2023 . October 5, 1998.
48. Web site: Waiver Draft Protected, Available Lists . https://web.archive.org/web/19991118230032/http://www.nhl.com/news/oct/100398lists.htm . NHL.com . October 3, 1998 . November 18, 1999 . March 25, 2023.
49. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 1999 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
50. Web site: 1999 NHL Waiver Draft . www.hockeynut.com . March 25, 2023.
51. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 2000 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
52. Web site: 2000 NHL Waiver Draft . www.hockeynut.com . March 25, 2023.
53. Web site: Some decent names were available . ESPN.com . March 26, 2023 . October 5, 2000.
54. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 2001 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
55. Web site: Islanders take Osgood in waiver draft - UPI Archives . UPI . March 26, 2023 . September 28, 2001.
56. Web site: 2001 NHL waiver draft Lists . www.hockeynut.com . March 25, 2023.
57. Web site: Players available for NHL waiver draft - UPI Archives . UPI . March 25, 2023 . September 26, 2001.
58. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 2002 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
59. Web site: No Activity Whatsoever for Sabres on Draft Day . Buffalo News . March 27, 2023 . October 5, 2002.
60. Web site: NHL protected list set for Friday's waiver draft . ESPN.com . March 25, 2023 . October 2, 2002.
61. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 2003 NHL Waiver Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . March 25, 2023 . December 1, 2013.
62. Web site: Players claimed in 2003-04 NHL Waiver Draft . ESPN.com . March 26, 2023 . October 3, 2003.
63. Web site: 2003 waiver draft protected list . ESPN.com . March 25, 2023 . October 1, 2003.