"The odds of defenseman Sergei Gonchar remaining with the Penguins appear to be slim.

As of late Wednesday, Penguins general manager Ray Shero and agent JP Barry had not agreed on a new contract for Gonchar, the Penguins' top defenseman of the past five years who will likely test the NHL free-agent market that opens today at noon.

"No movement," Barry said via text message, referring to the three-year deal he seeks for Gonchar, 36.

The Penguins prefer a two-year term at no more than his previous $5 million annual salary, and Barry said last week a two-year deal would need to include an average annual salary raise.

Gonchar will be among the most sought after free agents in a weak market - as will Dan Hamhuis, whose conversations with Shero stretched into last night.

The Penguins acquired Hamhuis, 27, last Friday at the NHL Entry Draft for a 2011 third-round pick from Philadelphia. However, it is not known if Shero and Hamhuis have discussed contract length or salary, as Shero via e-mail declined to elaborate on their interaction yesterday beyond calling it a "discussion."

Hamhuis' agent, Wade Arnott, said via text message that reports his client had targeted playing for a Canadian team, preferably near his native British Columbia, are "untrue."

"Dan remains very open-minded with respect to playing in the East versus the West or Canada versus the United States," Arnott said."