Nope. He is not in Edmonton anymore (USATSI)
Nope. He is not in Edmonton anymore. (USATSI)

Mike Sillinger, a veteran of 12 different NHL teams and nine trades during his 17-year career, is still the NHL's all-time greatest journeyman, and nobody is ever likely to match his adventures.

But not even he experienced a season like the one Mark Arcobello is currently having.

When the 26-year-old Arcobello makes his debut with the Arizona Coyotes -- likely Friday night against the San Jose Sharks -- after having been claimed on waivers earlier in the week, it will be the fourth different NHL team he has suited up for this season. According to the database at hockeydb.com, that will tie an NHL record and make him one of just three players in the history of the league (as far as we can find) to play for four different teams in one season.

The other two players were Dennis O'Brien in 1977-78 (Minnesota North Stars, Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Barons and Boston Bruins) and Dave McLlwain in 1991-92 (Winnipeg Jets, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs).

It has been an insane adventure that has seen him get traded once and claimed on waivers twice.

Let's recap his magical journey together.

It all started with the Edmonton Oilers, the team that initially signed him as an undrafted free agent a few years back, where he appeared in 36 games and scored seven goals to go with five assists. 

In late December, with the Oilers trying to finally address their massive hole at center, he was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for veteran center Derek Roy.

His time with the Predators would be brief. After appearing in just four games with the team (and scoring one goal in his debut) he was placed on waivers where he was eventually claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in an effort to add some depth to a lineup that had been dealing with quite a few injuries at the time. Initially thought to be simply a bottom-six player, he eventually found himself skating a few shifts on Evgeni Malkin's line at one point. 

But as the Penguins started to get players back, including forwards Patric Hornqvist and Blake Comeau this week, they no longer had any need for Arcobello. So it was back to the waiver wire once again. This time he was claimed this week by Arizona. 

Four teams. One season. And a crazy tour of the NHL that has seen him zig-zag across North America and build a rather impressive collection of team-issued luggage and clothing. He has played for good teams. He has played for bad teams. He played alongside scoring champions, No. 1 overall draft picks and future Hall of Famers. He has played alongside Bobby Farnham. He has experienced the widest range of weather conditions (the ice and snow and sub-zero windchills of Edmonton, and now ... the desert) that the continent has to offer.

This is where he is. This is where he has been. Where he goes next, nobody really knows. 

For him, this has to be at the very least an annoyance, having to be constantly moving, never getting comfortable in a city or with a team, and always having to try and fit in with new teammates. Even worse is the fact two his moves have been via waivers. At least when a player gets traded it's fast and simple and they know where they are going. When they are on the waiver wire that is 24 hours of uncertainty in hockey purgatory, never knowing if they are staying where they are, going to the minor leagues, or going to one of 29 other destinations around the league.

On the plus side ... at least he is in demand.

A few other quick facts about Arcobello's season to this point...

• Coyotes coach Dave Tippett will be the fifth different head coach he has played for this season as a member of four different teams, joining Dallas Eakins and Todd Nelson in Edmonton, Peter Laviolette in Nashville and Mike Johnston in Pittsburgh.

• There have been 900 different players (forwards, defensemen and goalies) who have played at least one game in the NHL this season. Arcobello has already taken at least one shift on the ice with 73 of them. That is more than 8 percent of the league. This number is only going to increase because who knows how many different players he will take a shift with in Arizona. With Martin Hanzal out for the remainder of the season he could see some extended playing time the rest of the way, and with the Coyotes likely making some deals before the deadline the potential is there for him to see another 15 or 20 different linemates. 

•  He has been a linemate of David Perron, even if only briefly, on two different teams (Edmonton and Pittsburgh) this season. 

• He recorded a point in Edmonton as a member of the home team (the Oilers) and a visiting team (the Penguins).

• He has appeared in 50 games this season with three different teams and only experienced a win 14 times (seven in Edmonton, three in Nashville, four in Pittsburgh). That is a worse winning percentage (.280) than if he had spent the entire season to this point with the Buffalo Sabres (.290). Maybe he too is tanking for Connor McDavid. 

The only question that remains is: Which team will be team No. 5?

[Mark Arcobello map created by Eye On Hockey's Chris Peters]