Five NHL teams plagued by RFA dramas as training camp looms

Blue Jackets sniper Ryan Johansen is hardly the only unsigned NHL player at odds with his club. With training camps about to open, it's likely he won't be the lone star left at home when his teammates take the ice on Friday.

When you've got Blue Jackets president John Davidson accusing agent Kurt Overhardt of "extortion," it's no wonder that the Ryan Johansen contract kerfuffle is grabbing all the headlines.

Blue Jackets president torches talks with RFA Ryan Johansen

But the Columbus sniper is hardly the only unsigned player at odds with his team. And with training camps opening in a matter of hours, it's likely that Ryno won't be the lone star left sitting at home when his teammates take the ice on Friday.

Consider Minnesota, where Wild beat writer Mike Russo reported late on Tuesday night that Josh Harding, the team's presumptive starting goalie, suffered an off-ice ankle injury that has him on crutches and puts the start of his season in question. (Update:According to Russo's latest report, Harding actually broke his foot when he kicked a wall after an altercation with a teammate.)

Harding is expected to be out for two to three months, missed time that will be tough to swallow for this hard-luck keeper. Harding got off to a brilliant start last season, leading the NHL with a 1.65 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage, but missed the second half while struggling with side effects from a new medication that he was taking to deal with his multiple sclerosis. He got his health back in order over the summer and was set to reclaim his role as the Wild's No. 1 before his latest setback.

The injury is bad, but the timing is worse for Chuck Fletcher. Minnesota's GM was using the readiness of veterans Harding and Niklas Backstrom to play contract hardball with restricted free agent Darcy Kuemper. The 24-year-old goalie's bid for a one-year, one-way contract had gotten little traction and he seemed destined to fold. Now, the uncertainty surrounding Harding's situation could force Fletcher to bend to Kuemper's demands.

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Fletcher does have options—Ilya Bryzgalov, for one. The mercurial Russian got his game in order after joining the Wild at the deadline last season, going 7-1-3 with a 2.12 GAA and a .911 save percentage to help Minnesota secure a playoff berth. But as nice as it is for Fletcher to have that bullet—or Martin Brodeur or Tim Thomas or Tomas Vokoun—Bryzgalov and the other veterans don't make a whole lot of sense for the organization since they would command at least the same one-year, one-way deal, but at a higher annual salary than the $850,000 Kuemper reportedly is seeking.

Kuemper had no leverage before. Now, depending on the results of Harding's examination on Wednesday, he could have a lot. He could be signed to the exact deal he wants in time for the start of camp.

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In St. Louis, it looks like it will take a surprising turn in negotiations—or five forwards showing up on crutches—to narrow the gap between the Blues and Jaden Schwartz.

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The sides have agreed that a two-year bridge deal is the way to go, but they're still far apart in terms of compensation. Schwartz can make a decent case for himself. He ranked third on the team in goals last season (25) and fourth in points (56). He led St. Louis with a +28 rating and was effective in all three zones. The Blues would counter that Schwartz has played only 132 NHL games, a sample that is too small to justify a hefty raise. It's easy to see the merit in both arguments.

But there are two other issues at play here. First, St. Louis is tight under the salary cap, with just $2.7 million worth of space. Barring a trade—an option GM Doug Armstrong is disinclined to pursue—there's not enough room to meet Schwartz's demands and leave the team with space left over in case of an emergency. Second, the Blues are loaded up front. They already have 12 forwards on one-way deals, to go along with job-seeking prospects Jori Lehtera, Dmitrij Jaskin, Ty Rattie and Peter Holland. Sure, St. Louis would miss Schwartz's production, but it's not like his absence would leave a huge hole.

Schwartz is a terrific player and a big part of the team's future, but the Blues hold all the cards right now. A resolution depends on him coming to terms with that fact. It seems likely, if not certain, that he'll miss the opening of camp, and there's some chance that his absence could stretch deep into September. But at least there's a cordial tone to the negotiations, which suggests that the chance of the season opening without Schwartz in uniform is close to nil.

• What to make of the Blues trying out Paul Bissonette

That's certainly not the case in Nashville, where the Predators' talks with Ryan Ellis are dead in the water. The free agent got into 80 games in the final year of his entry-level deal, and had 27 points to rank third among the team's defensemen despite the fact that he averaged just 16:04 of ice time. That disparity highlights the stumbling point in these negotiations. Ellis wasn't trusted by the coaching staff to play significant minutes at five-on-five, but he found a way to contribute with time on Nashville's second power-play unit. That point production has real value to a team that averaged just 2.61 goals per game last season, but until he proves himself dependable at even strength, the Preds will be in no hurry to over commit.

The two-year $5.2 million deal signed recently by the Avalanche's Tyson Barrie provides a decent framework, but Nashville isn't likely to approach that amount even if they truly believed that Ellis, a former first-rounder, had a big upside. If this stalemate drags deep into camp, it's as plausible that Ellis will be dealt as it is that he will be signed.

• Can Pekka Rinne return to form for the Predators?

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The situation in Boston where entry-level free agents Reilly Smith and Torey Krug have been consigned to the back burner while GM Peter Chiarelli sorts out his cap issues, seems no closer to resolution. It's clear that the Bruins need to make a deal to create space, but the fact that they haven't yet suggests that Chiarelli doesn't like the returns being offered—or that hasn't yet decided which player to trade. Speculation has surrounded veteran defenseman Johnny Boychuk, but his value to a team with Stanley Cup aspirations is significant. It's possible that Chiarelli could look instead at moving a forward such as Brad Marchand, Loui Eriksson or even Smith. That would seem counterintuitive—the B's have depth on the blue line and are short some talent up front—but it all comes down to maximizing assets. If there's more value to be had from moving a scorer while creating room for a prospect like Ryan Spooner or Alex Khokhlachev, that could be the way Boston creates the space it needs.

But other teams know that they have Chiarelli over a barrel and they're not inclined to make his life any easier. It's all but certain then that Smith and Krug will miss the start of camp.

• Will Krug and Reilly really show up?

• Four teams just one injury away from playoff miss

Top 20 players to enter the NHL since the 2004 lockout

20. Brent Seabrook, D

David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated

Seabrook and his Blackhawks partner Duncan Keith are one of the game’s best defensive tandems. A two-time Stanley-Cup winner, and Olympic gold medalist in 2010, Seabrook has also developed a penchant for scoring big goals. In 2013, he tallied the overtime winner against Detroit in the Western Conference semi-finals and three weeks later scored another OT winner to beat Boston in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

19. Thomas Vanek, LW

Charles Laberge/Sports Illustrated

After winning an NCAA championship at the University of Minnesota, Vanek joined the Sabres for 2005-06 and went on to produce seven straight seasons of 25 goals or more, including a pair of 40-tally campaigns. In 2006-07 campaign, the talented sniper led the NHL with a +47 rating.

18. P.K. Subban, D

Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated

The cocky Habs defenseman has become one of the most dynamic and entertaining players in the NHL. He can be an offensive force, a defensive pest and a general nuisance for Montreal’s foes. Subban won the Norris Trophy in 2013, and produced 14 points in 17 playoff games the following season while leading the Canadiens to an upset victory against archrival Boston and a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the summer of 2014, he was rewarded with an eight-year, $72 million contract.

17. John Tavares, C

Paul Sancya/AP

The first pick in the 2009 draft was regarded as one of the finest prospects since Sidney Crosby. Tavares has since become one of the game’s most exciting players. Named captain of the Islanders at age 22, he was a finalist for the Hart Trophy in 2013. A relentless worker, his impressive game is still evolving and improving.

16. Corey Perry, RW

John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

The 2011 Hart and Richard Trophy winner has become one of the game’s most consistent offensive players. A Stanley Cup-winner in only his second season (2006-07), he’s earned two First Team All-Star selections. Perry also won two gold medals playing for Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.

15. Ryan Suter, D

David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated

Suter entered the NHL with Nashville the season after the lockout and instantly emerged as an outstanding, mobile two-way defenseman. In 2012, he signed a celebrated 13-year contract with his hometown Minnesota Wild and won First Team All-Star honors. He’s also played in two Olympics for Team USA. (His uncle Gary, was a two-time Olympian, and his late father, Bob, was a member of the famed Miracle on Ice team that won gold at the Lake Placid Games in 1980.)

14. Zach Parise, LW

David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated

Parise joined the Devils the season after the lockout and later became New Jersey’s captain, the team reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. He’s topped the 30-goal mark five times, and as a member of Team USA at the 2010 Olympics, he famously scored the tying goal with 24 seconds to play in the third period, sending the gold medal game into overtime before Canada ultimately prevailed. In 2012, he signed a 13-year contract with his hometown Minnesota Wild.

13. Ryan Getzlaf, C

Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated

The Ducks’ captain has established himself as one of the game’s premier power forwards. He joined Anaheim the season after the lockout and was a key player in the Ducks’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2007. He’s produced just under a point per game in both the regular season (608 points in 633 games) and playoffs (74 points in 81 games), won gold medals for Canada at the 2010 and ‘14 Olympics, and was runner-up to Sidney Crosby in the 2014 Hart Trophy balloting.

12. Duncan Keith, D

David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated

Widely considered to be one of the league’s best defensemen, Keith joined the Blackhawks the season after the lockout and went on to win the Norris Trophy in 2010 and '14. He also bagged Olympic gold medals while playing for Canada those years. In 2010 and 2013, he helped propel the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup.

11. Shea Weber, D

Derek Leung/Getty Images

At 6’-4” and 233 pounds, Weber has established himself as one of the game’s most feared hitters on the backline since joining the Predators right after the lockout. He also possesses one of the game’s hardest shots, and has also produced 12 points in 13 Olympic contests while helping Canada to gold medals in 2010 and 2014.

10. Drew Doughty, D

David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrate

The rookie once known as Dough Boy has become a pillar of the two-time Stanley Cup-winning Kings. An exceptionally creative defenseman, he possesses one of the game’s best shots and array of bodychecks. And few players seem to have more fun playing the game. He also has two Olympic gold medals on his mantle.

9. Anze Kopitar, C

Donald Miralle/Sports Illustrated

One of the NHL’s most complete forwards, Kopitar is finally getting his just recognition. He led the league in playoff scoring during each of the Kings’ championship seasons, totaling 46 points in 46 games in 2012 and ’14, and was a finalist for the '14 Selke Trophy as the game’s top two-way forward.

8. Henrik Lundqvist, G

David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated

The only goalie in NHL history to win at least 30 games in his first seven seasons, King Henrik has become the toast of New York while setting Rangers club records for wins during the regular season (309) and playoffs (43). He led the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and backstopped Sweden to the silver medal at the Sochi Olympics, adding to the gold medal he won at the Turin Games in 2006.

7. Jonathan Quick, G

David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated

A two-time Stanley Cup champ and Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2012, Quick has emerged as one of the stingiest goalies in the game. Despite weighing 220 pounds, he is so flexible and capable of covering the entire lower portion of the net that his teammates took to calling him Gumby. His combined marks in the 2012 and 2013 playoffs (.940; 1.63 over 38 games) are astounding.

6. Steven Stamkos, C

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At 24, Stamkos, the first pick in the 2008 draft, has surpassed Alex Ovechkin as the NHL’s most dangerous goal scorer. He’s twice won the league’s Rocket Richard Trophy, scoring 60 times in 2011-12. Despite missing considerable time due to a broken leg suffered in Nov. 2013, he came back and still managed to produce 25 goals in less than half a season while leading the Lightning to the playoffs.

5. Alex Ovechkin, F

Jason Kopinski/Icon SMI

Ovi edged Sidney Crosby for the Calder Trophy during the first post-lockout season and has gone on to light the lamp 422 times in 678 games, leading the NHL in goals four times and producing four 100-point seasons. In 2008, he became the first player to win the Art Ross, Hart Trophy, Lindsay Award and Richard Trophy in the same season. He remains the game’s most entertaining sniper.

4. Patrick Kane, RW

Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images

Kane, 25, is one of the game’s most dangerous offensive players, possessing magic hands that dangle pucks through seemingly impenetrable traffic jams. He’s played on two Stanley Cup champions and scored the winning goal in OT to clinch the championship against Philadelphia in 2010. Three years later, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

3. Jonathan Toews, C

Robert Beck/Sports illustrated

At 26, Toews is arguably the game’s premier leader and winner. He’s won two Stanley Cups and two Olympic gold medals and is recognized as one of the game’s most complete two-way players. With 29 points in 22 postseason games, he was voted the Conn Smythe Trophy winner after the Blackhawks’ title run in 2010.

2. Evgeni Malkin, C

Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI

The man from Magnitogorsk has become Sidney Crosby’s lethal partner in the league’s most dangerous one-two combination. Malkin, who won the 2007 Calder Trophy, is now a two-time NHL scoring champ and the 2011-12 Hart Trophy winner. When the Penguins won their most recent Stanely Cup, in 2009, it was Malkin not Crosby who walked away with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

1. Sidney Crosby, C

Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated

How can you top his two Hart Trophies, two Ross Trophies, a Stanley Cup, two Olympic gold medals—including the golden goal in OTto beat the USA in Vancouver—and mantle as the game’s best player? You can’t. He’s put up 769 points in only 550 regular season games and 114 in 95 playoff matches. At 27, his Hall-of-Fame career is likely only half over.