That could prevent the Flyers from locking up Leino, who is tied for third in team scoring with four goals and 13 assists heading into tonight's matchup in Minnesota, until the offseason.
Leino, 27, will earn $800,000 this season. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Leino's agent, Bill Zito, was in town last week. Zito met with Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren briefly but had no progress to report.
"It's a process," Zito said yesterday. "Very rarely does it ever take just one phone call or one meeting to get a deal done. We're on the same page."
Leino, who enjoys not only playing in Philadelphia but living here, too, said he isn't sweating not having a new contract.
"It's a good fit," Leino said. "I'm enjoying hockey and it's been good for me. I like it here. In Detroit, I didn't like living in the suburbs. I like the city life here, I've enjoyed my time outside hockey and hockeywise. That makes it a good fit."
Next year's salary-cap picture does not include unrestricted free agents Nik Zherdev ($2 million), Sean O'Donnell ($1.3 million), Brian Boucher ($925,000) or restricted free agents Dan Carcillo ($1.075 million), Andreas Nodl ($850,000) or Darroll Powe ($725,000) - all of whom are eligible to come off the books at the end of the season.
Last summer, the salary cap increased almost 5 percent, from $56.8 million to $59.4 million. With ESPN interested in the NHL's broadcast rights, thus pumping more money into the revenue stream, the cap could increase by even more than that next summer. It also could stay the same - or even decrease with an unforeseen financial disaster.
Via trade or roster move, the Flyers could make enough room this season to sign Leino to an extension.
