While Brian Gionta did not declare he would play exhibition games without a contract, the Devils’ record-setting goal-scorer insisted yesterday that “holding out” is neither his intent nor strategy.

“We’re confident we’ll get something done. We have no intention of holding out,” Gionta said yesterday.

“Holding out” is not the applicable term for an unsigned restricted free agent such as Gionta, but rather applies to a player AWOL while under contract. Gionta said Monday he will have to decide about attending training camp if still unsigned because of the career risk he’d be taking, and did not retract that position yesterday.