Patience will be a virtue for Bryan Murray in the next week.

With six days until the first round of the NHL entry draft Friday night in Philadelphia, the Senators GM will have to wait before he gets his best offer for captain Jason Spezza.

The issue for the Senators is simple: The market is crowded at the moment and Spezza isn't the only top centre available for hire. People who watch a lot of hockey have a hard time recalling the last time there were this many big names available heading into the summer.

All this is not making it easy for Murray and he knows the teams trying to do the buying are sitting in a position of strength.

"I've talked to other teams that have centres, they don't know what they're doing any more than I do as far as what value they can get for these people," said Murray Thursday. "It does give a team that's trying to acquire one a little leverage, there's no doubt about that."

Unless someone gives him a deal he can't refuse between now and then Murray will likely have to sit tight until next Thursday before the suitors make get serious with their best pitch.

The St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks both have extensive interest in Spezza but you have to think both are waiting for the 11th hour to make what will be their best offers.

While Brad Richards, bought out by the New York Rangers Friday, wouldn't be included in the group, the Canucks are trying to move Ryan Kesler, Colorado's Paul Stastny is set to go UFA and San Jose may move Joe Thornton.

Yup, the picture is muddled in a very big way.

In the case of Kesler, he requested a trade last fall and only wants to go to either the Chicago Blackhawks or Pittsburgh Penguins and Stastny is talking contract with the Avalanche.

Sharks GM Doug Wilson hasn't shopped Thornton but has been talking about an extensive rebuild and he'd have to waive his "no move" clause to to accept any change.

All this just makes Spezza's value a little more difficult. This trade has to be right for the Senators because it could set the organization up for the next few years if the Senators are able to get the three elements of a top six forward, top prospect and No. 1 pick.

Unfortunately for Murray, it also means he can't try to move this deal along because those he is speaking with might be looking at other avenues.

"A lot of teams might be waiting to see what happens with those guys," said a league executive Friday. "They might be waiting to get their mind around the market a little bit.

"Teams might want to see what kind of movement there is high in the draft and who is going to have their first round pick."

Nobody is sure, with the names Kesler, Stastny and Thornton available, where Spezza stands on that list. That really depends on the needs of the team involved in the discussions.

Spezza has always been a consistent player offensively, however, he's not a two-way forward and that will play a key role in which team he ends up with. It's about finding the right fit."

"He's perceived as an offensive player who is more a slow-down, hit the late guy. He's not an attacker on the rush but he's not a bad skater," said the executive. "He's an assist guy on the power play who has good size, strength and can beat you. He's a 65-to-75 point guy."

That doesn't mean a deal won't get done and by this time next Thursday the executive is convinced the Senators will be close to having something in place they can stomach.

"I would assume a deal like that will be done on Day One of the draft if not the day before," said the executive.

Time is ticking away.

bruce.garrioch@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @sungarrioch