Davison And Pyatt To Hit The Open Market; Canucks Qualify Kyle Wellwood

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Vancouver Province writer Jim Jamieson is reporting on the White Towel blog that Vancouver Canucks defenceman Rob Davison has had discussions with the Canucks regarding a new contract, but will test the free agency waters tomorrow hoping to land a contract with a team where he will play regularly.

“We’ve had some cordial discussions with the Canucks, but at this point we’re looking after Jul. 1,” Davison’s agent, Dan Palango told Jim Jamieson. “Rob loved his time in Vancouver, but he wants to see what opportunities open up for him.”

Davison, 29, signed as a free agent with the Canucks on Jul. 10, 2008 and competed in 23 games this season filling in for injured defencemen. He served as the team's seventh and eighth defenceman with Lawrence Nycholat and, eventually, Ossi Vaananen.

It also says that the Vancouver Canucks have made no contact with Taylor Pyatt's agent Todd Christie, meaning Pyatt will also hit the open market tomorrow.

Kyle Wellwood has also been extended a qualifying offer by the Canucks. He made $997,500 last season which means he is entitled to a qualifying offer of 105 percent of that salary which is $1,047,375.

Wellwood, 26, was claimed off waivers from Toronto on June 25, 2008 and was subsequently signed to an one-year qualifying offer of $997,500. He was criticized by the Canucks coaching staff at training camp for showing up out of shape before getting back in shape and earning himself a spot on the opening roster as a healthy scratch.

After a horrible game in Washington—where he was rocked by Alexander Ovechkin—Wellwood was placed on waivers and assigned to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL before an injury to Pavol Demitra forced the Canucks to place him on re-entry waivers and to recall him.

Wellwood returned as the second-line centre and the right-hand shot on the power play with the Sedins before finding a home on a dominant third line that consisted of him, Mason Raymond, and Steve Bernier.

No word on if the other Canucks restricted free agents have been qualified, but you can bet that the likes of Shane O'Brien and Jannik Hansen got their qualifying offers.

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