Lindholm won't attend Ducks camp without contract

Hampus Lindholm didn't jet back to California when Sweden crashed out of the World Cup of Hockey. He headed straight home, and will remain there until he has a contract.

Lindholm's agent, Claude Lemieux, confirmed Thursday that his client will not attend training camp until he signs a new deal with the Anaheim Ducks.

"Our plan is to report to the team once we have a contract signed," Lemieux told Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. "Until then Hampus is training in Sweden."

The 22-year-old restricted free-agent defender and the Ducks are both believed to covet a long-term pact, but there's reportedly a significant gap between Lindholm's ask and what the budget club is willing to commit.

Several blue-liners in Lindholm's class have signed long-term agreements this summer, offering easy comparables. Those deals range from the $5-million annual salary Toronto Maple Leafs defender Morgan Rielly fetched on a long-term contract to the $7.5 million Aaron Ekblad will pull in each season for the next eight years.