Total of 18 NHL players hit the waiver wire today

This offseason has already brought some surprises, and Friday was no different, as 18 players were waived by their teams, including some notable names.

The six teams involved in these transactions are Vancouver, Columbus, Seattle, New York, Philadelphia, and Ottawa. With teams still finalizing their rosters, now is a prime time to use waivers since it's more likely that players will pass through without being claimed.

Most of the players on the list aren't ready for the NHL just yet, but teams with less depth may take a chance on one of them. While fans might not see any big names in this group, some of these players could get another look from teams in need.

As the season progresses and rosters shift due to player performance, we can expect more interesting names to show up on waivers. For now however it's unlikely that many of these 18 players will make an NHL impact anytime soon, whether they clear waivers or join a new team.