NHL waiver draft

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

The 1987 NHL waiver draft was held on October 5, 1987. 15 selections were made and 17 players total changed teams.^[27][28]

The 1988 NHL waiver draft was held on October 3, 1988. 18 selections were made.^[29][30]

The 1989 NHL waiver draft was held on October 2, 1989. Eight selections were made.^[31] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[32]

The 1990 NHL waiver draft was held on October 1, 1990. Eight selections were made.^[33]

The 1992 NHL waiver draft was held on October 4, 1992. Eight selections were made.^[34][35]

The 1993 NHL waiver draft was held on October 3, 1993. Six selections were made.^[36] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[37]

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.^[38] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[39]

The 1995 NHL waiver draft was held on October 2, 1995. Eight selections were made.^[40]

The 1996 NHL waiver draft was held on September 30, 1996. Nine selections were made.^[41][42] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[41]

The 1997 NHL waiver draft was held on September 28, 1997. Nine selections were made.^[43] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[44]

The 1998 NHL waiver draft was held on October 5, 1998. Nine selections were made.^[45][46] Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^[47]

The 1999 NHL waiver draft was held on September 27, 1999. Ten selections were made.^[48] Protection lists were released prior to the draft.^[49]

The 2000 NHL waiver draft was held on September 29, 2000. Five selections were made.^[50] Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^[51][52]

The 2001 NHL waiver draft was held on September 28, 2001. Eights selections were made and nine players total changed teams.^[53][54] Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^[55][56]

The 2002 NHL waiver draft was held on October 4, 2002. Six selections were made.^[57][58] Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^[59]

The 2003 NHL waiver draft was held on October 3, 2003. 18 selections were made and 20 players total changed teams.^[60][61] Protection lists were released two days prior to the draft.^[62]

• Waivers (NHL)

• Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia