When the free agent music stopped this summer, once again many notable veterans were left standing without chairs, er, new teams to play for.
Such is life under the current salary cap system. Prime-age stars still get paid top dollar, so teams make the numbers work by deploying more players on entry-level deals and fewer twilight-year veterans.
In other words, more Ivan Barbashevs are gaining NHL footing early on and fewer Brenden Morrows are able to extend their career.
Some veterans were smart to jump at opportunities earlier this summer. Winger Patrick Sharp gladly returned to the Chicago Blackhawks for minimal coin ($800,000 base salary) because he has already banked big money and he wants to close out his career with a winner.
Sharp scored just 18 points in 49 games for Dallas during his injury-plagued 2016-17 season, but he scored at least 24 power-play points in three of his previous four seasons. Perhaps he could end up opposite Patrick Kane as Artemi Panarin's replacement.
Power forward Scott Hartnell returned to Nashville for just $1 million after the Columbus Blue Jackets bought out the last two years of his six-year, $28.5 million contract. Although he scored just 37 points last season, his finished plus-14 and his points per 60 minutes played (2.32) ranked eighth in the league.
After getting just 1:24 per game in power play time for Columbus, Hartnell could be a net front presence weapon for the Nashville with the man advantage given James Neal's departure to Vegas in the expansion draft.
Hartnell and Sharp could flourish for their new/old teams and have a big impact in the Central Division race this season.
But future Hall of Famers Jaromir Jagr and Jarome Iginla are still without employment, along with familiar names like forward Shane Doan, Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford, Brian Gionta and PA Parenteau and former Blues defensemen Roman Polak and Dennis Wideman.
Jagr scored 46 points for Florida last season, but he turns 46 this season. Gordie Howe aside, hockey's actuarial tables aren't kind to 46-year-olds. Still, why wouldn't the Devils bring him back to Jersey after losing center Travis Zajac for half the season due to a training mishap?
Vanek scored 48 points for Detroit and Florida last season, but his 40-goal days are far behind him. The Red Wings liked him well enough before bailing on the season, but that franchise is all capped out.
Also, in league demanding a "200-foot game" from forwards, he's more like a "160-foot" guy.
Doan and Iginla could become victims to the game's speed up. On the other hand, Polak figures to find work somewhere because teams are always looking for physical defensemen like the Romaninator.
Blues fans naturally wonder if any those players could end up wearing the Note, either as a bargain signing or on the dreaded professional tryout (PTO) audition in training camp.
The Blues are currently about $2.4 million under the cap, but at this time general manager Doug Armstrong seems intent on giving prospects Barbashev ($742,000 salary for this season), Zach Sanford ($875,000), Oskar Sundqvist ($675,000) and bargain pick-up Beau Bennett ($650,000) battle for roster spots up front.
Among those battling for depth work on defense are prospects Jake Walman ($925,000) and Jordan Schmaltz ($925,000) and bargain addition Nate Prosser ($650,000).
