Two former top prospects on waivers including Sami Niku

This just in, the Montreal Canadiens have placed defenseman Sam Niku on waivers, while the Chicago Blackhawks have also placed forward Brett Connolly on waivers.

In the case of Niku, he's put up just two goals and 16 points in 67 games over the course of his NHL career after coming over from Finland as a top prospect for the Winnipeg Jets. He has just six assists in 13 games with the Canadiens this season and, frankly, has been just as underwhelming in Montreal as he was in Winnipeg. He's been given plenty of opportunity to grab a full-time spot in the NHL but at 25 years old and by having to clear waivers now, he's likely on his way out of the league. You never know though, a team with nothing to lose could give him a third and final shot. Third time's the charm or three strikes and you're out? We'll see.

As for Connolly, his path from former 1st round pick (6th overall in 2010) to journeyman depth forward is well documented. He was taken in the top of the draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2010, but failed to make an impact in four seasons with the club. He moved on to play a mostly uneventful season with the Boston Bruins before catching on with the Washington Capitals in 2016-17. It was with the Caps where he played his best hockey, scoring 22 goals and 46 points in 81 games during the 2018-19 season. That season earned him a four year, $14 million contract with the Florida Panthers that comes with a hefty $3.5 million cap hit. He has failed to live up to that deal and he's bounced around the past two seasons between the Panthers, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate Rockford IceHogs.  

Because Connolly still has another season left at $3.5 million against the cap it's hard to see him getting pick up off waivers. The fact of the matter is that overpaid, underproducing 29 year old depth forwards aren't really a hot commodity around the league these days...