Faceoff: Gillis Vs. Sedin Twins

(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Ask any Polynesian Fire Dancer and they'll tell you that playing with fire can be exciting and rewarding. Unfortunately, it can also light your grass skirt on fire.

It seems that with free agency looming, this is exactly what Mike Gillis is willing to do with his most prized free agents D. and H. Sedin. Both sides seem to have stated their cases and what they both feel are fair terms and dollars.

I won't re-hash the details here, but it seems to me that Mike Gillis has stated pretty firmly what he and the Canucks are willing to go to, and doesn't look willing to budge very far from that position. Say what you want about him or the situation, but that takes some pretty serious cajones.

He doesn't look like he's going to be the one to blink first either.

So where does that leave us as fans? Well, it seems we'll find out just how badly the Sedins want to stay here for their families, they're team, and this city in the next week or so.

There's obviously still the possibility that something gets done and they stay with the Canucks. However, we could just as easily see the end of the Sedin-era and a complete shift in the team's direction.

Thankfully for the Canucks and Gillis there's a smorgasbord of talent available this year, and we have a few promising prospects that may be able to fill in the gaps.

Even with no hockey being played, no one can accuse this time of year of being dull.

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