At least 10 big name players – many of them on the league’s top teams – have decided to test the free agent market, declining to sign with their current teams.

Goalie Andres De La Garma, who has won two Cups with Copenhagen is one of them. Winger Jan Kovar, who won two Cups with Berlin is another.

“Months-long parties are great, but I can’t get past the fact he (GM Guybrush Threepwood) bought cheap beer for us both years,” Kovar said. “Are you telling me he couldn’t splurge a little and buy some decent beer for us? He wears the fanciest cloths and has a driver to cart him around Europe, but still we get garbage beer for winning the Cup for him? Twice? I am out of here.”

De La Garma’s reason for holding out for more money was different. “I want more money.” he said. “Marty Sayle is a great guy to work for and I like all the guys on the team … I just want more money.”

Other big name free agents who said they will test the free agent market include Bern offensive dynamos Mark Stone and Andrey Bykov; Madrid’s 30-goal man Evander Kane and defensive stalwart Jonas Brodin; and two longtime Athens stars in Ryan O’Reilly and Justin Schultz. Goalies Andrew Hammond, who has become famous in Milan, Alexander Salak of Belfast and Martin Jones of London also plan to shop for new goals to defend. Veteran defenseman Nick Leddy, of Oslo, will also weigh offers from new teams.

And legend Alexander Ovechkin, who still wants to play at age 39, is willing to leave Lisbon for a new team. He has already played for 8 different teams in 13 seasons. The Great Eight has failed to hit 20 goals and 40 points the last two seasons.

All of the above and many more free agents will be available in the next phase of the season, and if any are signed, they will receive no movement clauses which means they – and their salaries – will have to remain on the Pro or Scratch lineups for the entire season. They cannot be traded, waived or bought out.