Over three weeks after the NHL UFA market opened on July 1st, there ain’t much left in the store for shoppers to choose from.

This summer’s UFA talent pool was already a thin one given that much of the best talent was re-signed to new contracts, in some cases (hello there, Joe Thornton and Jarome Iginla) a full year before their UFA eligibility date.

Globe and Mail blogger James Mirtle’s been keeping an updated list of the best available talent at each position and as you can see the pickings are slim indeed.

The best available forward remains Mats Sundin, who’s as valuable now as he was on July 1st, but the market is apparently limited to three Canadian teams – Montreal, Vancouver and of course his old stamping grounds in Toronto.

His agent claims Sundin will decide by August 1st if he’ll retire (unlikely) or return to action and if so which club he’ll choose, which should mercifully bring to an end the constant media speculation over his plans.

After Sundin, the depth drops dramatically.

Brendan Shanahan is still available, but apparently only talking with the Rangers, who’ll be hard pressed to find cap space for him unless he accepts a considerable pay cut or they move someone out (Petr Prucha, perhaps?) to free up the extra cap space.

Joe Sakic is available but nobody’s bidding on him because it’s understand that, if he does decide to return for another season, it’ll be with the Colorado Avalanche, period. Thus far Sakic has yet to make up his mind.

Teemu Selanne is still but despite some internet chatter of his signing with Montreal to play with old buddy Saku Koivu (and how many years has THAT old chestnut been flying around? Ten??) it’s Anaheim or retirement for Selanne.

Peter Forsberg’s still available but he’s sidelined until December rehabbing his problematic right foot and is likely facing retirement if it fails to improve things.

Looking at Mirtle’s list perhaps the best available forward is Ladislav Nagy, who was nearly on a point-per-game clip with the LA Kings until he was sidelined for the season with a neck injury.

Nagy doesn’t have the best playoff rep but for a team seeking a playmaking forward he could be just the ticket provided he’s made a full recovery from injury, and might not cost as much as the $3.75 million he earned last season.

If it’s experience and leadership on your checking lines, Martin Lapointe, Stephane Yelle, Martin Gelinas and Bryan Smolinski could be yours for reasonable prices.

The depth on defense isn’t much better.

Teppo Numminen is still available but is reportedly close to re-signing with the Buffalo Sabres. If his heart condition which sidelined him for all of last season doesn’t hamper him again he could be a good addition to the Sabres blueline.

Marek Malik, much-maligned by the Rangers faithful the past two years but still a YouTube star for his shootout trick shot goal over Washington three years ago, is also there and perhaps playing in a less demanding city might be just the tonic he needs to rebound.
In goal, there’s Jocelyn Thibault, JS Aubin and nothing else.

So check out Mirtle’s listing, gang, and let me know who else on it you think might be a good addition to your team.