The same thing happened in baseball where many free agents had to wait to nearly spring training to get signed. Unless MLB is also in on the conspiracy it looks like it is just one of the effects of the economy.

While the list of players you cited have some strong history behind them, I belive that most teams could probably look at their prospects and justify holding a spot open for one of them instead of signing one of these players. If nothing else you want some idea of compeition for a roster spot going into camp.

Players with obvious injury risks ahve to be a special challenge for teams with cap issues, esspecially before training camps have even begun.

Also are guys like Malhorta, Comrie, Satan, Peca, Skoula, Bergeron, Neidermayer really worth the expense, there recenty play either indicates a cealing of third line forward or very limited defensman. At some point third line forwards or depth defensman should come from your AHL club. None of these guys are differnce makers.

All of these guys except possbily Moore and Seidenberg are on the back side of their carrers, or appear to have at least topped out. The ones who have been top six forwrads appear to be only marginal top six forwrads now, except Tanguay.

I think the issue that is finally developing is that teams are deciding that unless your a legit top six forward or top four defenseman, you not worth buying on the open market. If you are below that your like what so many of the goalies have recnelty found out, replaceable. It appears that a stratification is developing.

Yes, there is some cap space available this year, but next year the cap is going down. And that is where there is no cap room. If the UFA’s want to sign one year deals, I’m sure teams will oblige them.

Until things came to a screeching halt about two weeks, the pattern of signings was about the same as in the past two years. About two-thirds of the players had signed one or two year deals, the rest three years or longer. The majority of those signing one year deals took pay cuts (veterans coming off longer term deals), the majority of those signing for two years got increases. The one difference I noticed was that there were far more three year deals than four year terms-last year those categories were about even. I don’t know if would attach any great significance to that.

Last year the only signings of name players after July 30 were special situations like Teppo Numminen and Chelios. Most of the other players signed didn’t finish the year in the NHL.

It may be that the deeper pool of free agents this year has allowed teams to bide their time. It may be that some teams are just waking up to the fact that they have mismanaged their cap space. The next 30 days will give us a better take on whether this is just a late-breaking market or a true culling of the herd.

“I trust the source that said that to me, but I’m still uneasy about spreading rumours that widespread collusion is going on.”

That’s because it’s B.S. and a ploy used by agents in every sport to drum up fan interest in their clients. It happens every single year in MLB and most years for NFL players too, including this year. Agents believe if fans of a particular team, or many fans of several particular teams, will put pressure upon the owner/G.M. of their beloved team to sign whichever free agent has a sexy name. That’s all it is.

For those who believe there might be some form of collusion going on, ask yourself one simple question. When is the last time 30 grown men with inflated egos used to getting their way agreed on anything even as simple as what day it was? Never.

Frankly, I’d be stunned if de facto collusion isn’t happening. If not among UFAs, then certainly among RFAs. The utter lack of offer sheets for restricted free agents is inexplicable without at least an implicit agreement not to go after each others’ players.

Injured, old, ineffective. That about sums up the remainder pile.

Plus, I wouldn’t believe Bruce Garrioch if he told me the sun was hot. He fills the space between car stereo ads with 12 inches of facts-optional drivel.

In a day & age when the internet provides all the fakes news one cares to consume, and I can read a quality hockey writer such as Eric Duhatschek online, why would I waste the finger motion it takes to click through to Malkin to the Kings?

If two different people told me the tiny Republic of Togo was about to invade the St. Lawrence Seaway, that doesn’t make it true. The plural of “anecdote” is not “fact.”