DALLAS – If it looks like a holdout and smells like a holdout, is it really a holdout?

You bet it is. Maybe not by pure definition, but the Ducks boarded an airplane for Dallas on Tuesday to prepare for their season opener while Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell stay sequestered in their native Sweden, the two still without contracts and not about to report.

In the technical sense, Lindholm and Rakell are withholding their services to the Ducks instead of holding out because they’re not under contract as restricted free agents. But, given what they are to the team and what they can be, the absence of both sticks out.

A divide continues to exist between their agents and Ducks general manager Bob Murray. The gap didn’t close any Tuesday and now it’s certain they’ll remain away from the team when it starts its season Thursday night against the Stars.

Lindholm’s agent, Claude Lemieux, said he’s had some communication with the Ducks “but have not made any progress.” Rakell’s agent, Peter Wallen, also said “we are not any closer yet.”

Murray won’t comment on active negotiations. He’s had some difficult contract negotiations but only the 2010 discussions with Bobby Ryan ever came close to a potential holdout. The Ducks haven’t had a player miss a game for contractual reasons since Paul Kariya in 1997.

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said the Rakell-Lindholm double impasse isn’t affecting this team.

“It hasn’t been a distraction,” Carlyle said. “Not one bit. I haven’t heard anybody say anything about when they’re coming or if they’re asking. I think these players understand those situations. A lot of them have been in the league before. Some of them have probably been involved in the same type of situation.

“What happens contractually is left on the sidelines. When you come into that dressing room, you’re there to perform for the Anaheim Ducks.”

It is believed that the gap between the team and Rakell isn’t as wide as it is with Lindholm, who is seen as a potential star on the blue line. And Lemieux wants him paid like one.

The agreement struck Tuesday between Buffalo and restricted free agent defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen on a six-year deal worth $32.4 million could offer another comparable the Ducks will want to use. Ristolainen’s contract is identical to what Columbus paid Seth Jones.

Their $5.4 million average annual value is far more appetizing to the Ducks but it is believed that Lemieux, at least initially, asked the Ducks for something approaching the eight years and $60 million Florida shelled out for Aaron Ekblad ($7.5 million AAV).

The Ducks have just $7.5 million available under the salary cap and want to fit both Lindholm and Rakell without having to part with a significant piece solely to free up cap space. And they also can play some hardball on both.

Because the two weren’t eligible for salary arbitration, the Ducks held a lot of leverage and the pair holding out is all they can do to gain some. The Ducks have the luxury of a deep defense corps to wait out Lindholm and see if he may press Lemieux to make a deal.

Rakell is in a different structure from a salary standpoint. The forward is coming off his breakout season of 20 goals and 23 assists but he’s only two full years into the NHL. The Ducks aren’t comfortable paying him $4 million per season based on that.

However, the Ducks are much thinner up front as they’re relying on Mason Raymond, a washout in Calgary last season, to rediscover his game and Nick Ritchie to make a major leap in his second season. Meanwhile, Rakell could have an even bigger role within their top two lines.

Even if the two were to sign new contracts within the next day or two, Rakell and Lindholm still have to obtain work visas before joining the Ducks. And while Lindholm is healthy, Rakell remains further away from actually playing.

Rakell is coming back from surgery to remove scar tissue that built up from his March appendectomy. Wallen said he is continuing to build up his strength, has been able to do some light workouts and could be skating in the coming days.

The unexpected roster openings have allowed defenseman Jacob Larsson to make the team as a 19-year-old and winger Nick Sorensen, 21, to secure a spot after coming back from multiple injuries that threatened to stall his development.

Joseph Cramarossa also left a strong impression in camp and made the 23-man roster. Center Michael Sgarbossa cleared waivers and was sent to San Diego (AHL) while veteran Nate Thompson (torn Achilles) was put on non-roster injured reserve.

Contact the writer: estephens@scng.com