2011 NHL Free Agency: 7 Biggest Winners Ever in Arbitration

As we wander into the arbitration phase of the summer, with the first hearings set for July 19 and some big names on this summer's docket, it is time to look back at some of the biggest winners of the arbitration system throughout the ages.

While some of the players on this list became a free agent because of their ruling, others did re-sign with their team and can still be seen in the same jersey.

Let's take a look at seven of the biggest payoffs ever seen.

No. 7: Pierre Turgeon

Pierre Turgeon set a record in 1998 when his arbitration ruling came out to $4.65 million, beating the record set by Mark Recchi only the day before (his was a $4.5 million ruling).

Turgeon's point totals throughout his career probably pushed the St. Louis Blues along to renew the player's contract, even at the record-breaking price.

Turgeon stayed with the Blues for one more season, scoring 30 goals for 52 points before playing with the Dallas Stars for two seasons and ending his career with the Colorado Avalanche in 2007 with 515 goals and over 1,300 points.

Turgeon's record would be broken only two years later by John LeClair's $7 million ruling.

No. 6: Sergei Gonchar

Sergei Gonchar had already proven that he was a pretty good player to have on a team's roster when he went to arbitration in 2004. Gonchar came out of the deal with a $5.5 million ruling and even the Boston Bruins were happy with the price.

"I think it's a fair number for the player. But as I said before the process, once he filed for arbitration, we knew he was signed and we were happy. We want him on our team," Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell told ESPN when the ruling came out.

Unfortunately, with the lockout the next season, the Bruins didn't get to keep Gonchar as he moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins when the players stepped back onto the ice.

No. 5: Milan Hejduk

Milan Hejduk was in the class of winners of 2004 that pulled off big numbers in their arbitration rulings.

Hejduk came out of the ruling with a $5.7 million award, a deal the Colorado Avalanche eagerly grabbed.

There isn't much drama or team moving on this one as Hejduk stayed with the team he had debuted with and still plays for them today. His points total sits at 357 goals for 757 points in 910 games with the Avalanche.

No. 4: Pavol Demitra

Pavol Demitra found himself on the winning side of an arbitration ruling with the St. Louis Blues in 2003. At the time, Demitra's $6.5 million ruling was the second highest after John LeClair's in 2000.

The Blues didn't grab a hold of a contract the second that it was passed but Demitra did suit up for the team the next year and scored 23 goals for 58 points with a plus-one rating during the regular season and one goal in five playoff games.

Demitra has been on three teams since leaving the Blues after the lockout and last played for the Vancouver Canucks during the 2009-2010 season.

No. 3: Joe Thornton

Joe Thornton almost reached Scott Niedermayer's record-tying amount only weeks after him in 2004 when he was awarded $6.75 million in his hearing. The Boston Bruins, who had offered $5.5 million, quickly stuck a contract in front of Thornton to sign.

During the next season, his final with the Bruins, Thornton scored nine goals for 33 points in only 23 games. He spent 58 games of that season with the San Jose Sharks where he earned 92 points. He has been with the Sharks ever since.

No. 2: Scott Niedermayer

Scott Niedermayer went through the 2004 arbitration round with the New Jersey Devils where he was awarded $7 million for one year.

However, between arbitration and the season, the lockout occurred. Niedermayer found himself suiting up for the Anaheim Ducks the next time he stepped on the ice for an NHL game.

After moving to the Ducks, Niedermayer earned 264 points and was the captain of the team.

No. 1: John LeClair

When John LeClair was awarded $7 million in 2000, it took over as the new largest arbitration award in the history of the National Hockey League.

While LeClair went into arbitration seeking a $9 million one-year contract, the $7 million was 92 percent bigger than the average of his previous three year contract. The Flyers went into the hearing only wanting to offer $4.6 million but settled for the $7 million.

LeClair played for the team for four more seasons until moving to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005. He retired from the NHL in 2007.