12 Years for the Sedin Brothers

An optimist could point out that the Vancouver Canucks management and fans alike got some encouraging news when it was revealed on Thursday that their two top scorers, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, have expressed a strong desire to stay in Vancouver.

As opposed to many players who, as unrestricted free agents bolt to different teams, the Sedin twins who coincidently both led the team this year with 82 points have, according to a Swedish website, requested a 12 year pact worth $63 million which equates to a cap hit of just over $5 million. This proposal, which would expire when the Sedins would be in their early forties was not surprisingly turned down by the Canucks management.

Vancouver has often expressed their desire to re-sign the twins but for a shorter- term contract. “I don’t want to talk about it,” Daniel Sedin told CKNW in Vancouver on Thursday. “When this gets done, we will talk, but right now we’ll keep it between Mike (Canucks GM Gillis) and ourselves.”

Currently the two are still miles apart dollar wise as Vancouver hasn’t offered anything over $6 million for these two scorers who are easily worth $7 million in the open market. Even though these twins--who were selected in the first round by the Canucks in 199--want to stay in Vancouver, these two just might be skating with another team if the Canucks can’t re-sign them by July 1.

In nine full seasons Daniel Sedin has scored 462 career points and Henrik, who is more of a playmaker has scored 460. At 28 years old, both are just now entering their primes and if Vancouver can’t sign them, they will have many teams interested in their services.