re: MSB Season Long Hockey Thread

Hockey fan NooB here with a question about the Stars since that is who I started following when I moved to Texas just before the start of last season. I am reading that they are pretty close to finally signing Jamie Benn. My question is how often is it that an NHL team doesnt have one of their best players signed before the start of the regular season? Does this occasionally happen in hockey or is this a pretty rare occurance that a team's possible best player isnt signed by the first regular season game?

In comparison with the NFL: There are hold outs or unsigned players every season and sometimes that player will sit out training camp and some preseason games; however, they'll typically work out the contract issue & sign before the regular season actually starts.