NHL teams
Joe McDonald, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Reilly Smith, Torey Krug unsigned

NHL, Boston Bruins

BOLTON, Mass. -- Two days before Boston Bruins training camp officially begins with off-ice testing and physicals, forward Reilly Smith and defenseman Torey Krug remain unsigned.

It is a reflection of the salary-cap constraints general manager Peter Chiarelli is up against -- not an indication of bad blood between the players and the organization.

The Bruins held their annual preseason charity golf tournament Tuesday at The International, and neither Smith nor Krug attended the event.

At the start of the offseason, Chiarelli had mentioned that both players, who are considered entry-level free agents and can't negotiate with other organizations, may have to settle for one-year deals. Chiarelli added that both players deserve pay raises at "some point," so they might have to wait.

Chiarelli also told reporters last weekend at the rookie tournament in Antioch, Tennessee, that due to the salary-cap constraints, it's likely he will trade a defenseman. Johnny Boychuk's name continues to spin the speculation rumor mill, since he has one year and $3.36 million remaining on his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Never in Chiarelli's tenure has a player, for whatever reason, held out at the start of training camp, and the Bruins are hoping that continues.

Bruins coach Claude Julien said he's prepared for any scenario.

"There are certain things a coach can't control and I can't control that, so basically, to me, they're going to be like injured players if they don't show," he said. "We don't know what's going to happen. We'll find out Thursday morning. But if they don't, I've got to find some replacements, and we feel like we've got them at our camp and we'll move forward."

If Smith signs, he's slated to be back on the second line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand this season. Both Chiarelli and Julien said that's the one line they would like to keep intact.

Smith, 23, posted 20 goals and 31 assists for 51 points in 82 games for the Bruins last season, his first in Boston. Krug, 23, had 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points in 79 games last season.

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