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The Sedins should be the No. 1 priority for Gillis to get signed to an extension before the start of the year. They're the faces of this team and of the city, so no one can blame the Canucks for trying to lock them up to avoid the distraction of mid-season negotiations – especially in an Olympic season.

But there is another player that I would suggest Gillis not wait to long on.

That player is Jannik Hansen.

In my opinion, Hansen is one of the heart and soul players on this Canucks roster. He is a player who's grit seems to have diminished, as his offence and ice-time has increased. But with the insertion of Tortorella behind the bench, I realistically see the “Great Dane” playing with a little more piss and vinegar and having a huge season.

Add to that, Hansen is in his prime at the age of 27 and is coming off a season where he finished third in scoring for the Canucks, and you have a player that will be looking for a big raise on his 1.35 million cap hit.


Stats

12/13 (pro-rated)- 17G 46PTS 12+/- 94hits 17:33TOI 2:10SH TOI/GM
11/12- 16G 39PTS 18+/- 118hits 14:53TOI 2:08SH TOI/GM
10/11- 9G 29PTS 13+/- 149hits 14:42TOI 2:24SH TOI/GM

My projections

22G 50PTS 19+/- 180hits 17:55TOI 2:26SH TOI/GM


As I've said a few times this summer, I believe Hansen is set for a breakout season and will break the 20 goal mark for the first time in his career. Players that give their all every shift like Hansen, that can get around 20 goals, play close to 18 minutes and kill penalties are very valuable.


Comparable signings this summer

Matt Cooke – 2.5 million
Eric Nystrom – 2.5 million
Valtteri Filppula – 5 million
Ryane Clowe – 4.75 million
David Clarkson – 5.25 million
Tyler Bozak – 4.2 million
Victor Stalberg – 3 million
Clarke MacArthur – 3.25 million


The two guys on this list that I would say are the most comparable to Hansen are Stalberg and MacArthur. If you take into account an increase in the cap, one can imagine Hansen will be somewhere around 3-3.5 million per season on the open market given my expected projections

My offer to Hansen: five years, 14.25 million. Yah, it's a bit of a lower offer than he might be looking at this summer, but I think he'd take it given what he does this season is not certain.



What do you re-sign Hansen for?


What do you offer him as a UFA this summer?



Until tomorrow my friends, stay classy

Ian

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