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Spector

At home in Prince Edward Island, Canada, he's known as Lyle Richardson. But around these parts, he's known as Spector, FOXSports.com's Prince of Pucks. Check in with Spector's NHL Blog on Yardbarker.com for NHL rumors and analysis.

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Updated Jul 6, 2009 8:03 PM ET
     
 
The NHL's unrestricted free-agent market has been open for several days and while most of the top talent was snapped up within the first two days, plenty of quality talent still remains. Among the notable are Saku Koivu, Sergei Zubov, Alex Tanguay, Francois Beauchemin, Martin Biron, Derek Morris, Alex Kovalev, Paul Mara and Mike Comrie. The Fourth of July weekend in the U.S. likely played a role in slowing the free agent frenzy, but the main reason could be the limited number of teams with available salary cap space. With the salary cap for 2009-10 rising only $100,000 from last season's ceiling of $56.7 million, there aren't as many teams willing to spend compared to previous summers. Currently 19 of the league's 30 teams have $9.5 million or less in available cap space. Twelve of those clubs have three positions or more on their respective rosters to fill. Assuming most of these clubs prefer to give themselves a cap cushion of around $1.5 million for next season, that won't leave them much money to throw around in the UFA market. Of the remaining teams with $10 million or more in available cap space, the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Islanders and Phoenix Coyotes are expected to keep their respective payrolls for next season between the mandated salary cap floor of $40.8 million and $50 million. That could force most of the top available free agents into accepting less than their perceived market value. For example, it's been reported Beauchemin and Biron were seeking salaries worth $4.5 million and $5 million respectively but given how the market slowed in recent days, it's possible they could be forced to accept considerably less. That limited cap space could force some of these clubs to forsake the free-agent market and look instead at promoting affordable young players from their farm teams into their rosters. It could impact the eventual contract signings of the aforementioned players, but it's a good bet all will eventually sign with new NHL teams. Where it will have the most impact will be upon aging veterans and marginal players. Brendan Shanahan, Todd Bertuzzi, Mathieu Schneider and Mats Sundin were in recent years among the most prized free agents but this summer, they could be faced with a stark choice: accept considerably less money with teams they normally wouldn't consider signing with or risk going unsigned when next season begins. Shanahan, Schneider and Sundin could be forced to sit and wait through next season for a contract offer which might never come, which would be a sad ending to their long careers. They're not the only ones facing that possibility. Chris Chelios and Jeremy Roenick hope to return next season but could have retirement forced upon them if they cannot find any takers for their services. Players who serve as fourth line forwards, sixth and seventh defensemen and backup goaltenders could also have trouble finding new clubs to sign with this summer. They far outnumber available star talent and will find it difficult to attract interest as the available dollars dry up.
Tagged: Sergei Zubov, Derek Morris, Flames, Mike Comrie, Canucks, Red Wings, Paul Mara, Saku Koivu, Jeremy Roenick, Coyotes, Ducks, Stars, Canadiens, Islanders, Mats Sundin, Francois Beauchemin, Alex Tanguay, Rangers, Mathieu Schneider, Senators, Flyers, Todd Bertuzzi, Martin Biron, Chris Chelios, Sharks

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