The Top 10 NHL Waiver Pickups of All-Time

The picture describes it all: One's man trash is another man's treasure. In this case, it's one team's trash is another team's treasure.

There are different reasons why a player might be placed on waivers. The most common one would be a players lack of production. Another reason is to free up some cap space. Then there is the rare occasion where you can only shake your head and wonder as to why they placed a certain player on waivers.

Here are the top 10 NHL waiver pickups after the 2004-05 lockout.

10. Andrew Ebbett

Claimed off waivers by the Chicago Blackhawks on October 17, 2009.

Ebbett is the most recent waiver pickup on this list. Ebbett had a great rookie season in 2008-09 recording 32 points in 48 games, that is what made it so surprising when the Anaheim Ducks placed him on waivers early on in the 2009-10 season.

It is too early to tell what kind of impact Ebbett may have on the Blackhawks. If he can even have half of his .66 points per game average from last season, it should be considered a good pickup for Chicago.

9. Kyle Wellwood

Claimed off waivers by the Vancouver Canucks on June 25, 2008.

Kyle Wellwood became a very popular player for the Toronto Maple Leafs after recording a career high 42 points in 48 games during the 2006-07 season. At the time it was unthinkable that he would ever be placed on waivers but after a disappointing 2007-08 season that is exactly what happened.

He was picked up by the Vancouver Canucks and had a very hot start to the 2008-09 season but eventually cooled off. He would go on to record a career high 18 goals for the Canucks.

Wellwood has battled conditioning and injury issues throughout his career. So far he has struggled in the 2009-10 season recording just one point through 11 games.

8. Dominic Moore

Claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 11, 2008.

After producing only three points in the first 30 games of the season, the Minnesota Wild placed Moore on waivers.

No one really gave much thought into the Leafs picking him up. He had decent showing in his first season with the Leafs recording 14 points in 38 games. It wasn't until his second season in 2008-09 that he made a huge impact with the Leafs, becoming one of their top players.

He would go on to record a career high 41 points in 63 games. Moore and the Leafs failed to agree to a contract extension and Moore was traded to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline. Since then Dominic Moore's offensive production has gone way down and now is on the verge of possibly being placed on waivers again.

7. Mark Recchi

Claimed off re-entry waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers on December 7, 2007

When Mark Recchi was placed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was thought to be the end of a great career. The Atlanta Thrashers claimed Recchi and gave him a shot to prove he still had what took to play in the NHL and he did not disappoint.

Rechhi would go on to record 40 points in 53 games for the Thrashers. He would sign with Tampa Bay the next season before being traded to Boston at the 2009 trade deadline.

If Atlanta had not claimed Recchi off waivers he may of not be even playing hockey right now.

6. Todd Marchant

Claimed off waivers by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on November 21, 2005.

After acquiring Sergei Fedorov from the Anaheim Ducks, the Columbus Blue Jackets needed to free up some cap space so they placed Todd Marchant on waivers. He would be picked up by still then Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the team he still currently plays for.

Marchant made an immediate impact with the Ducks as a great role player helping the Ducks reach the Western Conference Finals. The following season he played a huge role as a penalty killer helping the Ducks win the 2007 Stanley Cup.

Marchant has scored some huge goals for the Ducks including a triple-overtime winner against the Detroit red Wings during the 2009 playoffs.

5. Sergei Samsonov

Claimed off re-entry waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes on January 8, 2008

There was a time that the former NHL rookie of the year Sergei Samsonov's career in the NHL could've been over. After playing a key role in the Edmonton Oilers cinderella run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals Samsonov signed a two-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens.

This is where it went all down hill for Samsonov. In his first season with Canadiens he recorded just 26 points in 63 games. He was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks the following season and had just four points in 26 games.

Samsonov would eventually be placed on re-entry waivers by the Blackhawks and was claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes. Samsanov was able to find his scoring touch again in Carolina recording 32 points in 38 games. That earned him a three-year contract from the Hurricanes.

4. Sean Avery

Claimed off re-entry waivers by the New York Rangers on March 30, 2009

The most controversial player in the NHL signed a three-year $15.5 million contract with the Dallas Stars on July 2, 2008. Avery would only play 23 games with the Stars before his fiery personality got the best of him.

After a long and complicated process Avery was eventually placed on re-entry waivers and was claimed by the New York Rangers. Avery was able to get back to his regular form with the Rangers and produced 12 points in 18 games.

More importantly than his offensive production the Rangers seem to be a better team with Avery in the lineup. Now the question is how long can Avery stay out of trouble.

3. Kyle Quincey

Claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Kings on October 13, 2008.

With the Detroit Red Wings great depth on defense they had no choice but to put Kyle Quincey on waivers. Nobody including the Red Wings knew what Kyle Quincey was capable of.

He would go to lead all Kings defensemen in points for the 2008-09 season with 38. He would be later be traded to the Colorado in the deal that sent Ryan Smyth to the Kings. Quincey has continued his strong play recording eight points in 15 games so far this season with the Avalanche.

2. Rich Peverley

Claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers on January 10, 2009

Peverley was never a highly touted player as he went undrafted. With hard work Peverley made it to the NHL with the Nashville Predators.

For parts of three seasons Peverley would split time between the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL and the Nashville Predators. After recording nine points through the first 27 games of the 2008-09 season the Predators placed him on waivers.

The Atlanta Thrashers claimed him and Peverley immediately started producing offensively for the Thrashers. He recorded 35 points in 39 games for Atlanta. Peverley is averaging over point per game so far in the 2009-10 season. The Thrashers signed Peverley to multiple-year contract extension on October 20, 2009.

1. Ilya Bryzgalov

Claimed off waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes on November 17, 2007

Ilya Bryzgalov always had the talent to be a number-one goalie in the NHL, he just needed a chance to prove it. He got that chance when he was picked up off waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes.

The then Anaheim Ducks General Manager Brian Burke tried to trade the talented Russian goaltender but failed to find any takers and had to place Bryzgalov on waivers.

He made an immediate impact with the Coyotes recording a 2-0 shutout in his first game. He would go to win 26 games that season and establish himself as a true number-one goalie in the NHL.

After a mediocre second season with the Coyotes in 2008-09, Bryzgalov is playing the best hockey of his career so far in the 2009-10 season.