More than a dozen players placed on waivers today

UPDATE: According to CapFriendly.com, more than a dozen players have actually been placed on waivers.

For our earlier report on this developing story, read below.

Four players have been placed on waivers today, the season's opening day of waiver eligibility.

Hitting the waiver wire are Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Hunt and forward Spencer Smallman, New York Islanders forward Richard Panik and Arizona Coyotes forward Michael Carcone.

Check it out:

Among these players Panik is probably the most familiar name. The 31 year old forward played just four NHL games with the Islanders last season and a further 39 games at the AHL level. He's just two years removed from a nine goal, 22 point campaign with the Washington Capitals. If you go back a little further he managed 22 goals and 44 points with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016-17. In total he has 88 goals and 195 points in 521 NHL games split between the Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, Capitals, Arizona Coyotes, Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. The problem with Panik is his $2.75 million annual contract that he signed with the Capitals back in 2019. While he's still a capable 4th line player at the NHL level, his contract is likely to leave him unclaimed and headed back to the AHL.

As for Hunt, Smallman and Carcone, they're unlikely to go claimed as well. Hunt played 50 games with his hometown Vancouver Canucks last season putting up three goals and 17 points. In total he has 22 goals and 76 points in 241 NHL games split between the Canucks, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers. He's a steady blueliner who doesn't play a flashy game and can provide steady minutes further down in the lineup. Of any of the players up for grabs today, he's the most likely to be claimed.

Smallman... well... he's 26 years old and has yet to play an NHL game. Despite a stellar campaign with the AHL's Chicago Wolves last year, I can't see anyone picking him up. Carcone has a slightly better chance of getting claimed, but if there's a team that he fits with... well... it's probably the Coyotes. He put up four goals and six points in 21 games with the Coyotes last season and at age 26 he's likely not in their longterm plans.