from Eric Stephens of the OC Register,

If it looks like a holdout and smells like a holdout, is it really a holdout?

You bet it is. Maybe not by pure definition, but the Ducks boarded an airplane for Dallas on Tuesday to prepare for their season opener while Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell stay sequestered in their native Sweden, the two still without contracts and not about to report.

In the technical sense, Lindholm and Rakell are withholding their services to the Ducks instead of holding out because they’re not under contract as restricted free agents. But, given what they are to the team and what they can be, the absence of both sticks out.

A divide continues to exist between their agents and Ducks general manager Bob Murray. The gap didn’t close any Tuesday and now it’s certain they’ll remain away from the team when it starts its season Thursday night against the Stars.

Lindholm’s agent, Claude Lemieux, said he’s had some communication with the Ducks “but have not made any progress.” Rakell’s agent, Peter Wallen, also said “we are not any closer yet.”

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