With less than a month to go until National Hockey League training camps open, plenty of experienced veterans have yet to lock down a place to play next season.
Some of these now-unrestricted free agents attracted solid returns for their former clubs when they were moved before the trade deadline. Now, those same players are available for free. All that's needed is the right contract.
A lower-than-expected increase in the salary cap has left more teams than usual counting their pennies heading into the season. As of August 29, General Fanager shows 16 of the NHL's 30 teams with less than $3 million in available cap space, which means limited competition for the players who are still on the market.