Panik, 23, was the Lightning's second round pick (53rd overall) in 2009. He has a lot of skill and upside, but could't find his way in Tampa, posting just eight goals and 14 assists (22 points) in 75 career games. A year ago I don't think the Maple Leafs make this claim, but with a new direction and focus on scoring goals and puck possession, Panik seems to fit their future plans.

Cracknell, 29, played 19 games with the Blues last season. He recorded two assists, zero PIMs and an even plus/minus rating. Claiming the 6-foot-1, 216 lbs. forward forced the Blue Jackets to put Brandon Dubinsky (lower-body) on injured reserve. Cracknell will now compete for playing time with a number of young Jackets' players.

After being acquired from the Canadiens, the Jets placed Budaj on waivers, now that he has cleared he will be the starter in St. John's. He is an excellent insurance policy for Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson.

The Jets traded Eric Tangradi to the Canadiens for Budaj and minor-leaguer Patrick Holland on Sunday, but the Jets must be content with the duo of Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson to start the season. Winnipeg is hoping that Budaj will clear waivers so he can stay in their system. The 32-year-old netminder was 10-8-3 with a 2.51 GAA and .909 SV% as Carey Price's backup last season. He had fallen behind Dustin Tokarski on the Habs' depth chart, thus making him expendable.

After spending the first five seasons of his NHL career with Minnesota, Prosser, 28, signed with the Blues this offseason, but will start the season in the AHL if he clears waivers.

Mueller, 26, was attempting to make an NHL comeback after spending last season in Switzerland. Mueller clearly did not have a good enough training camp to stick on a deep Blues roster, but he may be claimed by another NHL team.

Markstrom, 24, was acquired in the trade that sent Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers last March. He was 2-8-3 with a 3.39 GAA and .873 SV% between the Panthers and Canucks last season. Markstrom was once considered the NHL's top goaltending prospect and will likely be claimed by another team. He has just one year with a $1.2 million cap-hit left on his contract, making him a relatively low-risk add.

Kabanov, 22, was drafted in the third round (65th overall) in the 2010 NHL Draft. Kabanov played 25 games between the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) and Stockton Thunder (ECHL). The Russian forward never lived up to the expectations he set with a 55 point season in 50 games in his final year in the QMJHL.

The injuries on the blueline to Dennis Seidenberg and Adam McQuaid had the Bruins rather thin on the back-end, the claim of Potter provides a little extra blueline depth. Potter is 6-foot-3, 206 lbs. and plays a big physical game in his own end, but can also provide offence from time-to-time.

Conacher along with a fourth-round pick was sent to the Senators for Ben Bishop last season. Bishop has been amazing this season, while Conacher has struggled severely and now finds himself in Buffalo. The 24-year-old spent four years at nearby Canisius College, so this is a bit of a homecoming for Conacher. He recorded four goals and 16 assists (20 points) in 60 games with Ottawa this season.

It is a bit surprising that a couple of teams in need of goaltending depth did not claim Dubnyk. He will likely go to Milwaukee with Pekka Rinne and Carter Hutton as the Preds' goaltending tandem.

WIth Pekka Rinne back with the Preds and the emergence of Carter Hutton, Dubnyk has been placed on waivers in an attempt to send him to Milwaukee (AHL). However, with he could be claimed by the Oilers and return as their backup as they try to trade Ilya Bryzgalov before the deadline. He could also be claimed by the Sabres so that they don't need to acquire a backup as they try to trade Jaroslav Halak.

Kostka will join the team this week. The 28-year-old has appeared in 44 career NHL games between Toronto and Chicago, scoring two goals and 11 points. He made his NHL debut last season with the Maple Leafs after spending his first four seasons in the AHL. Kostka will be reunited with coach Jon Cooper, who coached Kostka in Norfolk in 2011-12, when the Admirals captured the Calder Cup championship.

Klesla cleared waivers the first time and will likely clear again and be sent to the AHL. He has just four points (1G / 3A) in 25 games with the Coyotes.

Urbom, a Devils draft pick, started the year with New Jersey before Washington claimed him off waivers. Things have come full-circle and Urbom is back with New Jersey after dressing in 20 games with the Caps (recorded 1G / 1A). In 14 career games with the Devils he has two goals.

Konopka, 33, is a rare mix of grit and skill, fighting regularly and annually ranking among the NHL’s faceoff leaders. Konopka is 6-feet and 213 pounds, he has 12 goals, 29 points, 1,049 penalty minutes and a minus-45 rating in 323 NHL games. He has one goal, two points and 55 penalty minutes in 36 games this season.

Pyatt, 32, has played the past two seasons with the New York Rangers, collecting 12 points (6G / 6A) in 70 regular-season games. He had four points (2G / 2A) in 12 playoff games with the Rangers last spring. He has appeared in 825 career NHL games with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix and the Rangers, notching 136 goals, 140 assists and 276 points. Pyatt has 24 points (10G / 4A) in 69 career playoff contests.

Bouchard will likely be sent to Bridgeport and Ryan Strome will be recalled.

Bouchard has been placed on waivers presumably to clear roster space in order to recall Ryan Strome. The Islanders are in desperate need of offence and Strome was the 5th overall pick in 2011 and leads the AHL with with 33 points (9G / 24A). Bouchard has not recorded a point in the last eight games and has just four goals and five assists in 28 games. He signed one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason and could be claimed by a team in need of forward depth .

Smithson has played in 13 games with the Maple Leafs, averaged 10:20 TOI, has no points, a minus-4 rating and one shot on goal. He is on a two-way contract so there will be no cap-hit if he is claimed from waivers.