Waiting by Phone for Offer an Odd New Reality for Many Established NHL Veterans

For agent Richard Evans, two of his longtime clients never had any trouble selling themselves before. Radim Vrbata and Tomas Fleischmann always had plenty of bidders for their services in the NHL, and it was hoped it would be the case again when free agency began July 1. As the calendar stretches into August, however, Evans' two veteran clients remain without NHL contracts.

They are among several older unrestricted free agents, and even some not so old, hoping the phone rings before training camps start next month. Other notable unsigned players include Jiri Hudler, Kris Russell, Patrik Elias, Kyle Quincey, David Jones, Alex Tanguay and Brandon Prust. 

"We obviously think guys like Radim and Tomas still have good value as players," said Evans, based in the Vancouver area. "We know there is interest from teams. It's just a question of the right fit."

Many of the teams expected, on paper at least, to seriously compete for playoff spots already have spent close to the salary-cap ceiling of $74 million. According to General Fanager, 10 teams have less than $3 million left to spend, with six less than a million under. (In fact, Detroit and Pittsburgh are over the cap.) As of Thursday, only three teams (Carolina, New Jersey and Calgary) had more than $10 million left to spend.

For players such as the 35-year-old Vrbata, the reality is they might have to take a one-year, incentive-laden deal—if they get any offer at all. Any player 35 or older can sign for a low base salary but can make significantly more in incentives. 

Vrbata, who had a $5 million cap hit with Vancouver the last two seasons, is coming off a disappointing 13-goal, 27-point season in 63 games. The season before that, however, he scored 31 goals. Evans believes Vrbata would blend in easily in a top-six role, with other good players.

"A lot of guys had tough years in Vancouver," Evans said. "Radim was playing with a lot of young guys at times. He wants to prove he can still play at a high level, and he can."

Hudler, 32, might be the most surprising name still out there. The Florida Panthers gave up second- and fourth-round draft picks to Calgary to acquire Hudler late last season, but the Czech right wing apparently isn't in the team's plans moving forward. He made $4 million last season, but after scoring only 16 goals in 72 combined games, his stock has fallen. Hudler's agent, Petr Svoboda, did not return messages left by Bleacher Report.

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

If players do not get formal offers from NHL teams by training camp, they will still be left with options. They could accept professional tryout offers (PTO) or could sign with teams overseas. Lee Stempniak accepted a PTO from New Jersey before last season and worked his way back into a full-time contract, and he signed a two-year free-agent contract this summer with Carolina. 

One other factor may be holding up the decision-making process for several teams as to their spending: Jimmy Vesey.

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The Harvard product, who won the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey last season, can become an unrestricted free agent Aug. 15. The Buffalo Sabres traded a third-round pick to Nashville to acquire exclusive negotiating rights to Vesey but have yet to come to agreement with the native of North Reading, Massachusetts. 

Several teams are believed to be interested in signing Vesey if he becomes available. One league source told Bleacher Report, in fact, that the Chicago Blackhawks have observed Vesey in at least two summer workouts and hope to convince him to sign with them if he's available. According to Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski, other interested suitors for Vesey include Boston, the New York Rangers and Toronto. 

Any team that loses out in the Vesey sweepstakes might then circle back to Vrbata, Fleischmann, Hudler and Co.

With most teams cap-strapped, however, there are only so many chairs to go around. When the music stops, some may still find themselves in a harsh new reality they're unaccustomed to—unemployed.

Adrian Dater covers the NHL for Bleacher Report