NHL Players Most Likely to Hold Out During 2014 Training Camps

With just over a week until training camps begin for the 2014-15 NHL season, a few teams still have some work to do at the negotiating table.

A smattering of talented young restricted free agents are restlessly starting to consider their options as they wait for their new deals to come together.

As Lyle Richardson notes in The Hockey News, "Long contract disputes are rarities in the NHL’s salary-cap world, largely because if an RFA hasn’t re-signed by Dec. 1 he’s ineligible to play in the NHL for the remainder of the season."

Restricted free agents who have just completed their entry-level contracts also don't have a whole lot of bargaining power. Offer sheets have virtually vanished from the NHL in recent years, and arbitration rights are limited. Unless a player is committed to a holdout or willing to play in Europe, he doesn't have a whole lot of leverage.

Here's a look at some of the highest-profile restricted free agents who remain unsigned along with my odds that their teams will be able to get them under contract in time for training camp next week.

John Moore: New York Rangers

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What He's Done: Acquired by the New York Rangers as part of the Marian Gaborik trade in 2013, John Moore is a 23-year-old defenseman coming off his entry-level contract.

Moore was a steady third-pairing defenseman in 2013-14 and has shown some upside with his big body and positive attitude.

What He Wants: Mostly, a chance to play. Steve Zipay of Newsday reported on September 5 that Moore has returned to the New York area and is participating in informal skates with his Rangers teammates.

"I'm really optimistic," said Moore. "This week a lot of ground was made up. Unless something really goes wrong, I'd be surprised if it's not done by training camp."

What's Being Offered: After re-signing higher-profile free agents Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard earlier in the summer, the Rangers are left with just $1.3 million in cap space to complete Moore's deal.

No hint has been offered from either side about the length of contract being sought, but Jimmy Hascup of USA Today speculates that a two-year bridge deal would make sense.

"We like John a lot, just trying to get him signed," said Rangers assistant general manager Jeff Gorton. "I'm pretty sure we'll get him signed, and get him ready to go.

Odds He'll Sign Before Training Camp: 5-1

In a summer of flux, the Rangers have tidily taken care of business with all their key players. There's no reason to think a contract like Moore's won't be complete before training camp begins.

Brenden Dillon and Cody Eakin: Dallas Stars

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What They've Done: They're both 23, both about to sign their second NHL contracts and they share the same agent, Jarrett Bousquet. The fates of restricted free agent center Cody Eakin and defenseman Brenden Dillon are intertwined as the Dallas Stars get ready to head to training camp.

Eakin's development has been steady—he scored 16 goals and 35 points last season—while undrafted defenseman Dillon took a big step forward in 2013-14, averaging more than 21 minutes a game as one of the Stars' top defensemen.

What They Want: At this point, we're not exactly sure. Stars beat writer Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News doesn't know if Eakin and Dillon are looking for bridge deals or long-term contracts, or if Bousquet is prioritizing one contract over the other.

Neither player had arbitration rights this season, so their leverage is limited, especially on an evolving team with plenty of players who are hungry for jobs.

What's Being Offered: No details have been released on the state of negotiations, but the Stars are working with about $5.3 million in cap space. That doesn't offer a lot of room for movement, but with only five regular NHL-caliber defensemen signed, Dillon's contract in particular should be a priority.

Odds They'll Sign Before Training Camp: 10-1

Agent Bousquet played hardball two years ago when he encouraged his client Shea Weber to sign a big-money offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers, but Eakin and Dillon don't have the same leverage—yet. As long as the Stars make a reasonable offer, the pair will likely be in the fold by the early days of training camp.

Jaden Schwartz: St. Louis Blues

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

What He's Done: On a St. Louis Blues team that was loaded with talent up front in 2013-14, left wing Jaden Schwartz posted 25 goals and 58 points in his first full-length NHL season. He showed that he's more than just a scorer by leading his team in plus/minus at plus-28.

What He Wants: Schwartz's agent, Wade Arnott, told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his client is open to accepting a short-term bridge deal now that his entry-level contract has expired.

"Right now we’re focusing our efforts on a shorter-term contract," Arnott said. "We’re not opposed to that concept, we just have to come to a meeting of the minds here on what the value is for that type of concept."

Though he's a defenseman, Tyson Barrie of the Colorado Avalanche could be considered a comparable player to Schwartz. Both took significant strides forward in their second full NHL seasons and look like important players for their teams' futures. Barrie signed a two-year deal with the Avalanche last week with an average annual value of $2.6 million, according to CapGeek.com.

What's Being Offered: St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong currently has $2.7 million in available salary cap space going into the new season. He says he won't use it all on Schwartz, per Rutherford.

"

My belief is that you have to leave yourself a substantial cushion for injuries and to make trades. We’re not going to start the season at the ($69 million) cap. It limits you to change your roster from day one and that’s not going to happen.

"

Odds He'll Sign Before Training Camp: 30-1

Armstrong went down this road last season as well.  Star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo held himself out of the Blues' 2013 training camp for just one day before inking a seven-year deal, according to the Canadian Press (via The Hockey News).

This year, Armstrong can't throw around the big bucks without clearing some cap space through trade. If he won't budge from his current number, Schwartz could be sidelined for all or part of training camp.

Darcy Kuemper: Minnesota Wild

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What He's Done: As Michael Russo puts it in the Minnesota Star Tribune, goaltender Darcy Kuemper "saved the team’s hide twice last season – once in the second half when the season looked like it may unravel and once in the first round of the playoffs when the Wild returned home down 0-2 against Colorado with Bryzgalov in net."

Twenty-four-year-old Kuemper may have just 32 games of NHL experience, but his contributions in 2013-14 were critical, as the Wild reached the second round of the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history.

What He Wants: A one-way contract. Kuemper knows that Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding are ahead of him on the depth chart. Furthermore, Kuemper can be sent down to the minors without needing to clear waivers until he accrues 14 more NHL games, according to CapGeek.com.

"Minnesota, they’re stuck on giving Darcy a two-way deal and I think Darcy deserves more," his agent, Jeff Helperl, told Russo. "I’ve basically told Chuck, 'we’re looking at a one-way deal on a one-year contract.'"

What's Being Offered: As Russo reports:

"

Helperl said the Wild is offering Kuemper a two-year deal. The first year would be a two-way deal (meaning Kuemper is paid a lower salary if/when he plays in the AHL and a higher salary if/when he plays in the NHL) and the second year would be a one-way deal (NHL salary in either place). 

"

Odds He'll Sign Before Training Camp: 40-1

Though the Wild also need to sign restricted free agent forward Nino Niederreiter, they have over $9 million in cap space available, so money's not the issue.

Backstrom and Harding are healthy to start the season, and Ilya Bryzgalov's agent, Ritch Winter, told Russo that his client "would very much like to return to the Wild," so there may not be enough minutes to go around in net.

Helperl is currently exploring the prospect of a job in the KHL for his client this season. It could be Kuemper's best opportunity to collect some significant work experience against quality competition.

Torey Krug and Reilly Smith: Boston Bruins

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

What They've Done: After joining the Boston Bruins as part of the Tyler Seguin trade, 23-year-old Reilly Smith surprised with 20 goals and 51 points during his first year in Beantown.

Pint-sized power-play specialist Torey Krug was even more impressive. In his rookie season, he potted 14 goals and 40 points to become one of the most productive offensive defensemen in the league.

What They Want: It may not matter much what they want. Currently $800,000 over the salary cap, the Bruins are in a financial pickle. They'll get $4 million in cap relief when they put injured center Marc Savard back on injured reserve, but that generates enough money to sign one important young RFA—not two.

What's Being Offered: Words of assurance? On September 5, general manager Peter Chiarelli told Nick Goss of NESN, "I want them to be part of this team, and obviously to have a full camp. In my tenure here, we’ve never had anyone not attend. But that doesn’t mean that they won’t."

If you sift through those double-negatives, it sounds like Chiarelli's still not quite sure how he's going to work his magic. 

Odds They'll Sign Before Training Camp: For both players: 75-1

CSN New England's Joe Haggerty reported back in August that Krug had received a big-money offer from Russia's KHL. In their current predicament, the Bruins might not mind if he spent a year abroad. The team's very deep on defense already; the B's would certainly miss Krug's unique skill set, but they'd be relieved to defer his negotiations until next season.

As Haggerty suggests, Krug and Smith would need to sign for well below market value if they plan to be part of the Bruins' starting lineup for the 2014-15 season.

Ryan Johansen: Columbus Blue Jackets

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

What He's Done: Now 22, Ryan Johansen enjoyed a breakout season in 2013-14. The big center led the Columbus Blue Jackets with 33 goals and 63 points.

What He Wants: Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch lays out Johansen's position, as articulated by agent Kurt Overhardt:

"Johansen is 22 years old and he's one of the top centers in the NHL. He is a budding superstar, the likes of which your franchise has NEVER seen. He will be paid accordingly...$7 million per season."

What's Being Offered: Portzline reports that the Blue Jackets would like Johansen to sign a two-year bridge contract.

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Johansen does not have arbitration rights. He does not have an offer sheet from another club to sign. He has had one productive NHL season and will be paid accordingly. Here's $3.5 million per year for two years. Blow us away and we'll talk motherlode, long-term contract in 2016.

"

Odds He'll Sign Before Training Camp: 100-1

According to Portzline, the Jackets have never in franchise history dealt with such a big gap in negotiations this close to the beginning of the season. Johansen's a special player, and Overhardt's a tough negotiator who doesn't like to back down.

This standoff could extend past training camp and into the regular season.

Contract info via CapGeek.com.