DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings and Tomas Tatar remain far apart in contract talks with an arbitration hearing looming in one week.

Tatar's camp has rejected a five-year offer of $5 million per season, wanting six or seven years at closer to $6 million a season, a source said.

Neither side appears willing to budge, which could result in a rare hearing for the Red Wings before an arbitrator next Thursday in Toronto. If it reaches that stage, Tatar will receive a one-year contract because he is eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer.

But the sides are sure to have more dialogue before then, to avoid what can be an unpleasant process for both parties.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland couldn't be reached for comment.

Ritch Winter, Tatar's agent, said "I do not comment on the private affairs of players without them instructing me to do so."

Tatar, 26, led the Red Wings with 25 goals in 2016-17, when he earned $2.75 million, and has a team-leading 75 goals over the past three seasons, along with 147 points in 245 games. Gustav Nyquist, who signed a four-year deal at a cap hit of $4.75 million in 2015, has 56 goals and 145 points in 240 games during that stretch.

The Red Wings could argue that Tatar scored most of his goals (13) last season in the final 25 games, after the team essentially was out of the playoff picture. Tatar, like many of his teammates, also has not stepped up in the playoffs, with just three goals and seven points in 17 games.

Tatar's side no doubt would point out that he ranks 31st in the NHL in goals over the past three seasons. The Red Wings could counter that he ranks 79th in points during that stretch.

Tatar could claim his numbers in 2015-16 (21 goals, 45 points) would have been better with more ice time -- 14:21, nearly three minutes less than in 2016-17 (17:17).

Tyler Johnson, who signed a seven-year contract worth an average of $5 million per season with Tampa Bay on Monday, has 69 goals and 155 points in 212 games over the past three seasons.

But he's stepped up big in the playoffs, with 20 goals, 40 points and a plus-16 rating in 43 games in 2015 and 2016, helping the Lightning reach the Stanley Cup finals one year and the Eastern Conference finals the next.

The Red Wings usually come to an agreement before an arbitration hearing - they settled on a two-year $8 million pact with Petr Mrazek just minutes before the arbitrator was to hear his case a year ago.

Jiri Hudler went to arbitration in 2010, but that was a special case to determine his contract, which was pre-arranged with the Red Wings, when he returned to the NHL from Russia. The last regular arbitration hearing involving the Red Wings was with Ray Sheppard in 1995. The player lost, was disgruntled and traded a few weeks into the season.

If Tatar gets a one-year deal, either through arbitration or before, the Red Wings will try to lock him up to an extension during the season. If no agreement is reached, they likely will move him before the trade deadline, especially if they're out of the playoff race.

Tatar said as much during an interview with Slovakian site cas.sk, indicating a one-year deal could be his last with the organization.

Two years for Athanasiou?

There is less urgency to get a deal done with restricted free agent forward Andreas Athanasiou because he didn't have arbitration rights.

The Red Wings aren't expected to sign him for more than two years, likely in the range of $1.5 million a season.

Athanasiou, with his elite speed and finishing ability, has played well in two seasons (27 goals - 26 at even strength - and 43 points in 101 games despite limited ice time - 13:28 last season and 9:01 the year before).

But the Red Wings would like a larger sample size before committing to a long-term contract

No room for Vanek?

The Red Wings have some interest in unrestricted free-agent forward Thomas Vanek, but won't have any cap room after Tatar and Athanasiou are signed.

They would need to shed a salary equal to what they sign Vanek for to make it possible. Vanek is seeking two years but the Red Wings wouldn't sign him for more than one. It's probably moot, since the club isn't likely to move a player to facilitate a deal.