EDMONTON — Step right up to the National Hockey League’s annual three-ring free-agent circus Wednesday and under the big top you’ll see more than 300 players available to the highest bidder. 

The Montreal Canadiens appear to have the best seat in the house because they have more than $30 million US in salary cap money to play with, although they only have 10 players signed for next year.

The Atlanta Thrashers might not be the primary destination for free agents, but they have $28 million to play with and 13 guys signed, while the Vancouver Canucks have $23 million to spend before reaching their cap, with 13 players under contract.

“July 1st? That’s when I take my vacation,” kidded Nashville general manager David Poile, who has dipped his toe in the water to sign Paul Kariya and Jason Arnott in past years, but isn’t flush with money — although he is determined to try and re-sign centre Steve Sullivan.

You would think there doesn’t appear to be the same cash to go around in these leaner economic times as there was one or two years ago.

And the salary cap will almost surely come down dramatically in July 2010 from the current $56.8-million ceiling, which should be scaring teams who can’t plan for the long-term.

In theory.

“That is the 64,000-dollar question, although it’s more like the million-dollar question now,” said Poile.

“I know there’s only been a couple (free agents) who have signed with their teams since the trade deadline, so I guess they feel the clubs are offering below market value so they’re waiting for July 1.”

“It’s the world we live in, I guess,” said one Western Conference general manager, who didn’t want his named used. “The players all end up getting what they want.”

Two years ago, the New York Rangers threw stupid money at free-agent centres Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, who haven’t produced, and the Philadelphia Flyers spent like a drunken sailor to bring in centre Daniel Briere, who’s now the No. 3 pivot behind Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.

There’s a lot of buyer’s remorse now. They can’t move those guys.

Or last July 1 when Chicago gave free-agent defenceman Brian Campbell $57 million over seven years — and he’s their third-best blue-liner right now behind Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

Or the Rangers, again, bestowing $39 million over six years for rearguard Wade Redden.

Don’t count on fiscal restraint being in play for winger Marian Hossa (if the Red Wings can’t keep him), or the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, who come as a package, or defenceman Jay Bouwmeester, who is only 25 years old and the most coveted name on the board if Calgary can’t sign him in time.

“I think teams may be more cautious with the term (because of uncertainty of the cap down the road) but not with the high-end guys,” said Columbus GM Scott Howson.

“They may still get seven or eight years.” 

A guy like Hossa has made $30 to $40 million already . . . maybe he’ll take less in Detroit.

“But he could get $7.5 million a year (someplace else),” said another NHL general manager. “Maybe a guy like Bouwmeester could get a 10-year deal if he took $6.5 million a season.” 

Agent Steve Bartlett represents a strong second-tier defenceman in Rob Scuderi, who is a very valuable piece of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup team as a shutdown defender.

Scuderi and Mike Komisarek are probably at the head of the class as stay-at-home guys, although the Habs’ Komisarek is bigger and a stronger hitter.

Scuderi is due for a large raise over last year’s $725,000, maybe in the $3-million range.

The Penguins might still sign him, but he’s going to see what’s on the other side of the fence, even if his backyard is plenty nice with the Cup champions.

“He’s a solid defender. He’s going to gobble up some of those dollars,” said Bartlett, who might get buyers in Chicago, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington.

Some free agents are delusional as July 1 beckons, which always happens.

Forward Nik Antropov in New York wants about $5 million after getting $2.1 million last year for 59 points, then disappearing in the playoffs.

“He’s got a snowball’s chance in hell,” Rangers general manager Glen Sather scoffed at the draft.

Thirty-three players were signed on July 1 last summer, and 26 the day after, so there’s not a lot of dallying.

Calgary traded for Bouwmeester’s rights at the draft, but the clock’s ticking.

Odds are Bouwmeester will see what’s out there on July 1 with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Flames and Dallas Stars likely in the running.

The Sedins are only being offered $5.5 million a year over five years to stay in Vancouver, but want a much longer term.

Ironically, Canucks GM Mike Gillis and the Sedins’ agent, J.P. Barry, were on the same plane over to Sweden after the draft, unbeknownst to either party, to talk to the twins.

A few teams would likely take both Sedins — the Leafs, because Brian Burke drafted them for Vancouver; Minnesota, where owner Craig Leipold is on record as saying he wants to make a splash; and Montreal.

“It’s tough, however, because you are putting out about $12 million a year for these two players. They come together, you can’t split them up,” said a league executive.

Marian Gaborik is the iffiest free agent on the market.

He’s a scoring machine with 59 goals in his last 100 games over the last two seasons, but you never know if he’ll rip his groin in the pre-game warm-up.

He’s been linked to Vancouver, but Gillis and Gaborik’s agent Ron Salcer have had a feud going for years, too, after Pavel Bure left Salcer for Gillis, so that might have a bearing on the Canucks’ chances.

The Kings would take Gaborik but only if they strike out on Hossa, who isn’t being offered anywhere near his market value to stay for the long term in Detroit.

Here is a list of the best free agents available, with their ages and how much they made last season. All figures in US dollars: 

Forwards 

1. Marian Hossa (Detroit), 30, $7.45 million 

2. Henrik Sedin (Vancouver), 28, $3.575 million

3. Daniel Sedin (Vancouver), 28, $3.575 million

4. Marian Gaborik (Minnesota), 27, $7.5 million

5. Michael Cammalleri (Calgary), 27, $3.6 million

6. Martin Havlat (Chicago), 28, $6 million

7. Saku Koivu (Montreal), 34, $4.75 million

8. Alex Tanguay (Montreal), 29, $5.375 million

9. Alex Kovalev (Montreal), 36, $4.75 million

10. Brian Gionta (New Jersey), 30, $4 million

11. Mikael Samuelsson (Vancouver), 32, $1.2 million

12. Bill Guerin (Pittsburgh), 38, $4.5 million

13. Todd Marchant (Anaheim), 35, $2.6 million

14. Steve Sullivan (Nashville), 34, $3.2 million

15. Ian Laperriere (Colorado), 35, $1.15 million

Defencemen 

1. Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim), 35, $6.75 million

2. Jay Bouwmeester (Calgary), 25, $4.875 million

3. Mike Komisarek (Montreal), 27, $1.9 million

4. Francois Beauchemin (Anaheim), 29, $1.6 million

5. Mattias Ohlund (Vancouver), 32, $3.5 million

6. Rob Scuderi (Pittsburgh), 30, $725,000 

7. Johnny Oduya (New Jersey), 27, $600,000

8. Greg Zanon (Nashville), 29, $750,000

9. Rob Blake (San Jose), 39, $5 million

10. Derek Morris (Rangers), 30, $3.9 million

11. Martin Skoula (Minnesota), 29, $1.9 million

12. Paul Mara (Rangers), 29, $1.95 million

13. Kurtis Foster (Minnesota), 27, $1 million

14. Jaroslav Spacek (Buffalo), 35, $3.3 million

15. Mathieu Schneider (Montreal), 40, $5.75 million

Goalies 

1. Nikolai Khabibulin (Chicago), 36, $6.75 million

2. Dwayne Roloson (Edmonton), 39, $3 million

3. Scott Clemmensen (New Jersey), 31, $500,000

4. Martin Biron (Philadelphia), 31, $3.5 million

5. Ty Conklin (Detroit), 33, $750,000

6. Craig Anderson (Florida), 28, $575,000

7. Manny Fernandez (Boston), 34, $4.75 million

8. Antero Niittymaki (Philadelphia), 29, $1.375 million 

9. Mathieu Garon (Pittsburgh), 31, $1 million

10. Martin Gerber (Toronto), 34, $3.7 million