The search for talent doesn't conclude when the final selection is made at the NHL Entry Draft. Each season there are more players available than draft selections, so a fair number of talented players are available who were passed over in the draft.

So a scout's job is never done as he identifies players that his team should sign as free agents. In many cases, some of these undrafted players go on to very productive NHL careers.

Here is a look at the Top 10 undrafted players.

No. 10, Todd Simpson, signed in 1994 by Calgary

At 6-foot-3, 218 pounds, Simpson has the size that scouts love, but he wasn't drafted after two seasons in the Western Hockey League. Signed by the Flames, he appeared in 214 games with Calgary between 1995 and 1999. He was traded to Florida for winger Bill Lindsay prior to the1999-2000 season. Simpson joined the Phoenix Coyotes on March 13, 2001 in exchange for a 2001 second round draft pick. In 67 games, he had two goals and 13 assists and was a plus-20. Last season, Simpson had two goals and seven assists and was plus-7 in 66 games.

No. 9, Sylvain Lefebvre, signed in 1986 by Montreal

The Canadiens took stock of what Lefebvre had to offer and signed him prior to the 1986-87 season. He spent two seasons in the minors before jumping to the NHL with Montreal.

He was traded to the Maple Leafs prior to the 1992-93 season and spent two seasons in Toronto, posting a plus-33 mark in 1993-94 before being part of the Mats Sundin-Wendel Clark trade that sent him to the Quebec Nordiques for a season and then on to Colorado where he served as an assistant coach on the Avalanche's 1996 Stanley Cup team. Lefebvre spent an additional three productive seasons with the Avalanche before signing on with the New York Rangers prior to the 1999-2000 season.

Steve Duchesne came out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to spend 16 seasons in the NHL with six different teams.

No. 8, Steve Duchesne, signed in 1984 by Los Angeles

Duchesne came out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to spend 16 seasons in the NHL with six different teams. He capped his NHL career with his only Stanley Cup, win with the Red Wings in 2002.

Duchesne established himself with the Los Angeles Kings, spending five very solid seasons there, becoming known as a very good offensive defenseman. He score 20 or more goals in three of those five seasons and was traded to Philadelphia in 1991-92, where he scored 18 goals and 38 assists. He was part of the huge package that was sent to the Quebec Nordiques the following season for Eric Lindros and scored 20 goals and 62 assists in 1992-93 for Quebec.

Duchesne was on the move again in 1993-94, joining the St. Louis Blues for two seasons. Then it was on to Ottawa for two season and then back to St. Louis for the 1997-98 season. Duchesne rejoined the Kings as a free agent for the 1998-99 season, but following his past, was on his way to Philadelphia at the trade deadline. He was a free agent again in 1999 and signed on with the Red Wings where he capped his career with the Stanley Cup.

No. 7, Steve Thomas, signed in 1984 by Toronto

In 18 seasons, Thomas has yet to win a Stanley Cup, but he came painfully close last spring. Acquired by the Mighty Ducks from Chicago at the trade deadline, Thomas was energized by the trade, scoring 10 goals and three assists in 12 regular-season games and then scored three game-winning goals in the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Ducks fell to the Devils in seven games.