As quickly as the fax machines fired off contracts on July 1 to begin free agency, the noise has certainly gotten quiet for those still pursuing a contract — although I think the fax machines have been retired.

This summer we’ve seen funny money again, record-setting contracts for Macklin Celebrini and Leo Carlsson, as general managers have enjoyed another $10 million to play with. 

There are always late signings that linger to the end of the summer, waiting until training camp, or even on opening night like Jack Roslovic a year ago, but there does seem to be an awful lot of them waiting for the phone to ring. 

You can debate just how good they really are, but there are legitimate NHLers out there, flawed they may be. Maybe they have to lower their contract expectations, and that’s the holdup, jealous that they haven’t been so lucky as some of their former teammates. 

Vladimir Tarasenko, Eeli Tolvanen, and Michael Bunting could help teams, for example. Patrik Laine was never going to get a contract nearly as lucrative as his $8.7 million once upon a time, but a team like the Seattle Kraken, I thought, would be interested. They lack goal scorers, and on a low-risk deal, it makes sense. 

I worry that Connor Ingram’s previous issues are holding him back from being signed. Either that, or the downfall of the Oilers in the playoffs is being placed solely on him. Ingram can help a team win games next season, but there are no takers so far. The New Jersey Devils feel like a natural match with their tentative tandem of Jake Allen and Nico Daws. New GM Sunny Mehta is probably biding his time. The longer it goes, Ingram’s value continues to go down.

Logan Stanley must be wondering where it all went wrong. The towering depth defenceman scored nine goals last season, nearly twice his career output, and he must’ve been laughing with his timing of a career year and a contract........

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