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Canucks’ GM denies term is holdup in Sedin contract talks

Mike Gillis

The generally accepted narrative surrounding the ongoing contract negotiations between the Vancouver Canucks and the Sedin twins is that term is the main holdup to reaching an extension.

That narrative has been supported by comments from the Sedins’ agent; however, it was refuted today on TEAM 1040 radio by the club’s general manager, Mike Gillis.

“We’re trying to figure out what the cap is going to be next year and the upcoming years and really that’s the key,” said Gillis, per the Vancouver Sun. “Those guys have been fantastic people, No. 1, for this organization. They’ve been great players and it’s really a function of how you allocate money in a cap system and we’re just trying to ensure we do the right thing for the entire organization and for Daniel and Henrik.”

Of course, if the Canucks agreed to give the Sedins a longer term, they could probably lower the annual cap hit. So the amount of years is still a factor, in all likelihood.

Not counting the Sedins, who are pending unrestricted free agents, the Canucks have most of their core signed through 2015-16 and beyond.

But looking a couple of years ahead, key veterans Ryan Kesler, Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis can become unrestricted in the summer of 2016, and then there are younger players like Zack Kassian and Chris Tanev that the club is hoping will be worthy of bigger deals along the way.

The Canucks may also want to add other assets in free agency or via trade, and that’s tough to do with no cap flexibility.