With the start of NHL training camps about a week away and the start of the St. Louis Blues' preseason schedule two weeks away, the simmering contract negotiation between unsigned restricted free agent Alex Pietrangelo and Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is about to get turned up to a full boil after Labor Day.

The two sides are still far apart on a potential megabucks long-term contract and it looks like the focus will be on a shorter, "bridge" contract. However, there is still apparently a rather sizable gap in that regard as well.

More and more, it's looking like Pietrangelo could miss the start of training camp. I think this is going to come right down to the wire of the season starting before a compromise deal on a bridge contract is reached -- unless one side or the other blinks first.

Stay tuned.... plenty more to come on this one.

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