According to National Lacrosse League records, there are over a hundred free agents still on the market with just a week to go before the start of the regular season.

As of this evening, 114 players were eligible for free agency, 87 of whom are unrestricted free agents.

The phenomenally large talent pool is the combination of several factors, including the New York Saints and Ottawa Rebel's respective suspensions of operations, successful breach of contract grievances by Saints and Columbus Landsharks players, and the recent labor negotiations halting all player signings until this week.

Indeed, this year's free agent class includes 46 former Saints, including much-sought-after forward Gavin Prout and stud goaltender Gord Nash.

Six former Columbus Landsharks joined Prout, Nash and others in unrestricted free agency when team management failed to pay them in a timely manner. (they are included in the Arizona Sting section below and are noted with asterisks). Thirteen Ottawa Rebel players also made the list, for a variety of reasons.

The remaining free agents comprise a fairly typical class -- twenty-two players went unrestricted via Section 7.2 of the collective bargaining agreement, as six-year veterans ages 32 and above, while another 27 are restricted.

Of the restricted free agents, four held out for an entire season without a contract, two received pay cuts in 2003, and the rest were not paid at least the league's mean player salary.

Restricted free agents must have at least three seasons of experience, including appearances in 23 or more regular season games.

No compensation is awarded to teams that lose free agents in any class, although clubs could apply a "franchise player" tag to two of their own unrestricted free agents. Those players would then be ineligible for free agency, but would be guaranteed the league-maximum salary for this season.

Eleven players were tagged this week: Buffalo Bandits forward John Tavares and goaltender Steve Dietrich, Colorado Mammoth forwards Gary Gait and Ted Dowling, Philadelphia Wings forward Tom Marechek and goaltender Dallas Eliuk, Rochester Knighthawks forward Curt Malawsky, San Jose Stealth forward Dan Teat and goaltender Rob Blasdell, and Toronto Rock forward Jim Veltman and defenseman Pat Coyle.

The Anaheim Storm, Arizona Sting, Calgary Roughnecks, and Vancouver Ravens did not name any franchise players.

The following players are eligible for free agency, and are unrestricted free agents unless otherwise marked.

ANAHEIM STORM
   Michael Busza (RFA)
   Stephen Evans (RFA)
   Michael Ladouceur (RFA)
   Brian O'Keefe
   Gordon Purdie
   Steve Sombrotto
   Paul Talmo
   Greg Traynor (RFA)

ARIZONA STING
   Ryan Cousins * 
   Bill Greer *
   Chris Levis *
   Peter Lough *
   Pat Maddalena (RFA)
   Spencer Martin *
   Scott Self (RFA)
   Derek Suddons *
   Rodney Tapp
   Jamie Taylor (RFA)

BUFFALO BANDITS
   Derek General
   Duane Jacobs
   Rich Kilgour

CALGARY ROUGHNECKS
   Neil Doddridge
   Kyle Laverty (RFA)
   Brad MacArthur (RFA)
   Jason Wulder

COLORADO MAMMOTH
   Erik Miller (RFA)
   Tom Phair
   John Rosa

NEW YORK SAINTS
   Peter Albro
   Brian Bendig
   Josh Black
   Adam Borcz
   Jon Brothers
   Kris Bryde
   Nick Carlson
   Greg Cattrano
   Ramar Clash
   Josh Coffman
   Chad Culp
   Scott Dooley
   Joe Ghedina
   AJ Haugen
   Jesse Hubbard
   Jim Keenan
   Brian Kuczma
   Rich Kunkel
   Tim Langton
   Darren Lowe
   Kevin Lowe
   John Madigan
   Pat McCabe
   Matt McFarland
   Randy McNeill
   Steve McTigue
   Ryan Mollett
   Tom Naglieri
   Gord Nash
   Matt O'Kelly
   Dan Paccione
   Chris Panos
   Armando Polanco
   Nick Polanco
   Gavin Prout
   Anthony Saccone
   Doug Shanahan
   Matt Shearer
   Jeff Shirk
   Brian Solliday
   Brian Spallina
   Scott Stapleford
   Sean Steinwald
   Matt Streibel
   Phil Wetherup
   Jeff Wills

OTTAWA REBEL
   Eric Pacey
   Bruce Codd
   Andrew Leyshon
   Derek Collins
   Doug Noganosh
   Charlie Lockwood
   Colin Linton
   Sean Orr
   Steve Fannell
   Brandon Sanderson
   John Veltman
   Patrick Russell
   Ross Cowie

PHILADELPHIA WINGS
   Paul Cantabene
   Mark Frye (RFA)
   John Gagliardi (RFA)
   Mark Millon
   Tom Ryan
   Ryan Traynor (RFA)

ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS
   Marshall Abrams (RFA)
   Kyle Arbuckle (RFA)
   Pat Cougevan (RFA)
   Pat O'Toole
   Tim Soudan
   D'Arcy Sweet (RFA)
   Regy Thorpe
   Shawn Zettel (RFA)

SAN JOSE STEALTH
   Chris Konopliff (RFA)
   Scott MacDonell (RFA)
   Brandon Miller (RFA)
   Matt Oglesby (RFA)
   Ryan Sanderson (RFA)
   Nick Trudeau (RFA)

TORONTO ROCK
   Glenn Clark
   Chris Driscoll
   Kevin Finneran
   Todd Richard (RFA)
   Ian Rubel (RFA)
   Bob Watson

VANCOUVER RAVENS
   Jamie Roy (RFA)