Ducks & Rangers Waive Veteran Players

The NHL waiver wire list comes out at noon eastern and on Sunday's list we saw David Backes of the Anaheim Ducks and Jack Johnson of the New York Rangers.

Jake Gardiner of the Carolina Hurricanes cleared waivers after team made him available to all the other teams on Saturday. His big ticket must have scared people away.

As for the Ducks and Backes, the 36-year-old is in the final season of his contract, paying him $6 million on the cap but only $3 million in actual cash. He's appeared in 10 games this season, scoring twice. It's not likely a team puts in a claim for Backes and the interest as we approach the trade deadline will be minimal.

As for Johnson and the Rangers, it's become a love/hate relationship for Rangers fans. The 34-year-old has one goal in 13 games so far this season and is a -5 rating. 

Given Johnson's contract there's a chance he could be claimed to a team looking for defensive help. Boston and Winnipeg are two teams to keep an eye before Monday at noon.

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