from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

After the initial frenzy of July 1, the NHL roster picture has settled into a waiting game - for free agents and fans alike.

Nearly one week in, a slew of talented free agents are still on the hunt for jobs. There have been nibbles and phone calls, but few concrete offers for players to consider.

"Deathly quiet," is how one veteran agent described the market on Monday.

Defenceman Cody Franson, 27, netted more points last season (36) than $19-million Bruins forward Matt Beleskey, yet he is still on the market. A right-handed shot at a premium position, Franson landed the Leafs a first-round pick in one of the deepest drafts in league history in a trade with the Predators last February. He still searches for a landing spot.

Five other players (Chris Stewart, Eric Fehr, Jiri Tlusty, Curtis Glencross and Mike Santorelli) were all in the top third of the league in points, but can't find jobs. Their average age is 29.

Too many teams - either due to cap crunch or roster limitations - are trying to unload extra bodies, further clogging the market. The Oilers and Flyers are both said to be looking to move defencemen.

The Rangers, another team in salary-cap jail, might consider moving a player like Rick Nash if Derek Stepan appears to be heading toward an enormous award in arbitration. Stepan, 24, has to be licking his chops after Ryan O'Reilly's seven-year, $52.5-million extension in Buffalo. Stepan has six more points in 65 fewer career games than O'Reilly and is a plus-85 compared to O'Reilly's minus-13 mark.

Clearly, there is still a lot of roster jockeying for all 30 teams to do between now and when the season opens on Oct. 7.

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