If you peruse the names remaining on the UFA list, there aren't a lot of surprises. Guys like Niinimaa, Ozonlinsh, Brisebois, Belfour and yes, Tony Amonte, have probably worn out their welcome in the NHL.
There is the odd headscratcher here and there, however. Danny Markov was a pretty effective player for the Detroit Red Wings last year. David Tanabe is never going to win a Norris trophy, sure, but he's relatively young, cheap and is a better option than most rookies. While the fact that Linden the old and Lindros the injured remain unemployed isn't overly strange, I find it hard to believe that no one has stepped up to take a chance on the likes of Mike Johnson, Martin Gelinas or even Peter Forsberg (as big a question mark as he is). Gelinas and Johnson are cheap veterans that can provide checking and the odd goal against decent competition. Johnson was a guy I thought the Flames might pursue to fill a gap on the right side, but pretty much any team could probably use him (particularly our rivals to the North).
Overall, I think I consider Markov the biggest surprise. He played some tough competition for the Wings last season and the team's goals for (50) and goals against (27) with him on the ice were fantastic. The resultant on +/-/60 rate for Markov was a very decent 1.42 (positive 1.42 goals for every 60 minutes played) with the obvious caveat that he played on a very strong club in a very weak division. He had a rough play-offs (18 GP, 0-0-0, -2) which may explain the Red Wings reluctance to bring him back, but one has to think with the dearth of quality defenders out there that some middle tier or bottom feeder team would take a run at him. Clubs like Phoenix, Edmonton, Pittsburgh and Washington could use someone of Markov's caliber to solidify their top 4.
I guess I don't know anything for certain. Perhaps Markov has fielded offers from half the teams in the NHL and is just waiting for a big, Souray-like pay-day. Or perhaps he has his sights set on playing for one particular Franchise, like Brad Stuart, and is still trying to hammer out a favorable deal with them. Or maybe someone back in Mother Russia is calling him.
While those are possiblities, it seems on the face of things that Markov was swept aside during the initial UFA feeding frenzy and has been left to drift with the tide.
