Another RFA expected to miss camp and his GM could crack!

The clock is ticking and all eyes are on the remaining unsigned restricted free agents as training camps are right around the corner. So many star RFAs are still locked in a contract impasse, notably Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner, Calgary Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk and Colorado Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen, it is hard to keep up with all these young players asking for loads of money… 

On Wednesday, Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen revealed he was getting worried about the effect an unresolved contract situation could have on his team with training camp set to begin Sept. 13. Restricted free-agent defenseman Zach Werenski is still unsigned and could miss the opening of camp… 

“The real frustration for me (is when a contract negotiation) drags on into training camp, because that’s a time for ‘team,’” Kekalainen said, according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. “That’s the time when the boys come here together. They start preparing and jelling and building that chemistry that we need as a team.

“When it goes to training camp time, it takes away from that preparation. It takes away from the team. That’s what I’m concerned about.”

The 22-year-old blue liner is said to be seeking a three-year contract worth at least $15 million. While Keklainen recently mentioned he was confident a deal could be reached before camp, it seems that his confidence has taken a hit… 

“We don’t believe in taking that preparation time away from the team,”the GM added. “We think it should be resolved before the team gets together and gets ready for the season.”

Selected eighth overall by the Blue Jackets back in the 2015 NHL draft, Werenski has posted 38 goals and 128 points over 237 career contests.

Columbus took major blows this summer with the departures of Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky and Matt Duchene and is surely hoping to get the young defender under contract before the start of the season.