5 things we're still waiting for in this offseason

We're just over a month away from the start of the NHL season, but a handful of summer subplots remain unresolved.

Several high-profile players are still awaiting new contracts, whether they be extensions on their existing deals or brand-new pacts for some aging players.

A talented center who's been the subject of trade talks for months hasn't been moved, and a longtime NHL winger is likely pondering his future after seeing a fellow veteran call it a career.

Here are five things we're still itching to see this summer:

Someone needs to sign Jagr already

Seriously, how is Jaromir Jagr still out there?

Yes, he's old. Yes, he's probably looking for a decent chunk of change. But hasn't he earned it?

Jagr's exploits are well documented. He's the NHL's third all-time leading goal-scorer and ranks second on the league's career points list.

The 45-year-old scored 16 goals and played in all 82 games last season. It was his third and final campaign with the Florida Panthers, who cut ties with the living legend on July 1, officially putting him on the open market.

But numbers side, the mere act of signing Jagr would be a major public relations victory and a boon to a club's marketing efforts.

Somebody needs to step up to the plate and get his signature on the dotted line.

Eichel, Sabres need to agree on money

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Unlike Jagr, Jack Eichel is still under contract, but the young Buffalo Sabres star could enter the final season of his entry-level deal without an extension in hand.

Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said last week that both sides want the maximum amount of term on a potential new agreement, which under NHL rules would be for eight years.

The issue, then, is the cash, and that aspect of the negotiations has more than likely been impacted by the recent extensions signed by Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid and his talented teammate, Leon Draisaitl.

Still, the market has been established, and the Sabres need to recognize that. They can avoid the in-season distraction that the lingering talks would cause by paying their franchise player what he deserves before the puck drops again this fall.

Pastrnak needs an extension, too

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The Boston Bruins have their contract quandary with a young star to worry about.

David Pastrnak is a restricted free agent, so there's even more urgency to resolve his impasse than there is regarding Eichel in western New York.

The promising 21-year-old's agent, J.P. Barry, said Thursday that talks will pick up Friday, and frankly, it's about time they did. Barry revealed he's going to request an eight-year deal, which would be for a year or two more than the club reportedly offered them earlier this summer.

In other words, Pastrnak's response to apparently being offered far less than he's worth ($6 million per season) is to seek a deal for the maximum amount of term allowable under the NHL's CBA.

This is how negotiations work, and this particular one will likely culminate with the two sides meeting somewhere in the middle, but surely they could have gotten there by now.

Will Iginla follow Doan's lead?

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Now that Shane Doan is retired, the attention shifts to Jarome Iginla.

After the Los Angeles Kings' season ended in disappointing fashion back in April, the 40-year-old said he was interested in playing another campaign.

But that was more than four months ago, and Iginla is an unrestricted free agent still searching for a new contract as autumn approaches.

Iginla had his moments with the Kings but failed to muster much production with the moribund Colorado Avalanche prior to the deadline deal that sent him to Hollywood.

There would be no shame for Iginla in bidding farewell to the NHL, and Team Canada will consider him for the 2018 Olympics if he goes that route, but he's certainly entitled to take his time to make such an important decision.

Will a Duchene trade ever happen?

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Matt Duchene has been on the block since at least last winter, so why hasn't a deal been consumated?

Talks have seemingly heated up on numerous occasions, but there have also been plenty of lulls in negotiations, which is where we appear to be now.

The Avalanche might be better served waiting until the 2018 trade deadline to maximize the return on a deal, but after the 2017 deadline passed without a Duchene move, the forward said there was "probably a good chance" a trade would be made this summer.

The end of the offseason is on the horizon, and a deal obviously hasn't happened yet, but the Avalanche clearly have no problem dragging this on until they get the package they want.