The official list of Canadian Football League free agents – released Thursday by the loop’s headquarters – is dotted with all-stars and cornerstone players, with Canadian talent and with potential game-changers.

But the most striking thing about that collection of skill is just how significant it is, with 227 players scheduled to become free agents at 11 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2017. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have the fewest number of potential free agents at 21; the Grey Cup champion Ottawa REDBLACKS have the most at 31.

And those totals aren’t surprising anyone.

“I don’t think this is an anomaly with the one-year contracts,” said Bombers GM Kyle Walters earlier this month. “This is the way the CFL is going, the potential free agents (list) every single year are going to be substantially higher every single year.”

Darvin Adams (4) of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the game against the Edmonton Eskimos at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, MB. Thursday, July 14, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras)

And so the challenge here with the Bombers is the same as it is across the CFL map: how does a team seeking to build while making an effort at a semblance of continuity make all this work under the 2017 salary cap?

“It’s impossible to think in today’s day and age in a league where everybody is on a one-year contract that you can keep your entire team together year to year,” said Walters. “Where everybody wants more money in a hard-cap league, it’s impossible.”

Matt Nichols is one of the two starting quarterbacks scheduled to hit the open market in February – Darian Durant of the Saskatchewan Roughriders is the other – and Walters said how those negotiations unfold will dictate their approach to the rest of their own free agents and how they might spend in just over two months when all the talent is available.

Also of note: there are 21 divisional all-stars among the group of free agents and six 1,000-yard receivers, including six of the top eight in the CFL this year.

The entire prospective CFL free agent list can be found here, and our look from last month at some of the Bombers who might be available can be found here.

And now, with the entire list made available for everyone’s eyeballs, here’s who popped out at us:

THE QB’S

• Matt Nichols, Wpg: He went 10-3 as a starter, brings a fiery leadership to the huddle and played arguably his best game in the West Semi-Final loss.
• Darian Durant, Sask: He’s 34 and played in only 11 games over the 2014-15 seasons, but bounced back in ’16. Still able to get it done.
• Kevin Glenn, Wpg: He’s thrown for a million yards and seems very comfy in playing the 1A/2 role – a factor that shouldn’t be under-estimated. But he’ll also come at a cost.
• Thomas DeMarco, Edm: Has bounced from B.C. to Ottawa to Edmonton. Now 27.
• Mitchell Gale, Sask: Was at the controls for one of the Riders wins this year.
• Dominique Davis, Wpg.: Hard to get a read on a guy who didn’t throw a pass last year and has just 25 attempts in his career.
• Jacory Harris, Ham: Buried on the Ticat depth chart behind Zach Collaros and Jeremiah Masoli.
• Jeff Matthews, Ham: See above.
• Dan LeFevour, Tor: Returned to the CFL and the Argos after battling injuries and showed flashes.
• Danny O’Brien, Ott: The REDBLACKS have their challenges as to how to handle Henry Burris and Trevor Harris, let alone the rest of their QB depth chart.

DEFENSIVE STAR POWER

• LB Solomon Elimmian, B.C.: The CFL’s top defender and a tackling beast.
• DL Charleston Hughes, Cal: CFL’s leading sack man, now 32.
• DE Alex Bazzie, B.C.: May get an NFL look as he is just 26. Gifted, gifted athlete.
• LB Micah Johnson, Cal.: Seven sacks, couple forced fumbles. Just gets after it.
• DB Abdul Kanneh, Ott: Really jumped out in the playoffs.
• DE Willie Jefferson, Sask: Appeared in only five games after returning from the NFL, but was dominant and had three sacks.
• LB Khalil Bass, Wpg: Not flashy, but all over the field.
• LB/DB Winston Venable: Was second to Bear Woods on the Als’ tackling list and added seven sacks.
• LB Kyries Hebert, Mtl.: He’s 36 now, but shows no signs of aging.
• LB Taylor Reed, Ott: Did a little bit of everything for Ottawa in a solid season.

OFFENSIVE STAR POWER

• WR Derel Walker, Edm.: Finished second in the league to teammate Adarius Bowman in receiving yardage. May get an NFL look.
• WR/SB Bryan Burnham, B.C.: Acrobatic pass catcher who was fourth in the league with 1,392 yards.
• OT Derek Dennis, Cal: He’s just 28 and was named the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman last week. Timing is everything.
• RB Brandon Whitaker, Tor: Quietly finished as the CFL’s second-leading rusher behind Jerome Messam.
• SB Greg Ellingson, Ott: Sure-handed and consistent.
• SB Ernest Jackson, Ott: The East Division’s MOP candidate and OT hero for Ottawa.
• WR/KR Chris Williams, Ott: Injury cut short a season in which he still put up superb numbers.
• SB Nik Lewis, Mtl.:  He’s part slot, part tight end, part bowling ball. And still productive.
• SB Marquay McDaniel, Cal: One of Bo Levi Mitchell’s faves for a reason: he runs great routes and gets open.
• SB Darvin Adams, Wpg: A shoulder injury derailed a big season; finished strong after return.

THE SPECIALISTS

• K Justin Medlock, Wpg: He’s the best in the league, period.
• LS Chad Rempel, Wpg: Best long snapper in the league, period.
• K Richie Leone, B.C.: Can crank punts into the stratosphere, but his placekicking was all over the map.
• KR Quincy McDuffie, Wpg: As dangerous a return threat as there is in the CFL.
• K Brett Maher, Ham: One-time Bomber found a home with the Ticats.
• P Rob Maver, Cal: So steady going on eight years for the Stamps
• K Sean Whyte, Edm: Led the CFL with a 93.8 field-goal percentage.
• K Rene Parades, Cal.: Hit on 87.5 per cent of his tries, including a 52 yarder to beat the Bombers in September.
• K Lirim Hajrullahu, Tor: Found his game again in Toronto; East All-Star.

THE CANADIANS

• OT Chris Van Zeyl, Tor: A Canadian who can play tackle is gold.
• OT Dan Federkeil, Cal: Ditto.
• OL Hunter Steward, B.C.: He’s not a tackle, but did start 14 games.
• SB Andy Fantuz, Ham: Breaking up the OL love here… Can still dominate games, even at 32.
• OL Pierre Lavertu, Cal: Injuries limited him to eight games, but he started all of them.
• S Antoine Pruneau, Ott: Third in tackles for Ottawa, added a sack and a pick.
• OL Tyler Holmes, Tor: Started all 18 games at left guard for the Argos. Still only 28.
• DT Jabar Westerman, B.C.: Jamaal’s younger brother had five in 16 games; his best sack totals as a pro.
• WR Shamawd Chambers, Sask: Former first-round draft pick of the Eskimos was the top Canadian in the 2015 Grey Cup, their top rookie in 2012 and top Canadian in 2013.