Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The city of Utica, New York is reportedly the “front-runner” to be the home of the Vancouver Canucks-owned American Hockey League franchise.

The Province reports the Canucks tried to keep the team in Peoria, but were not happy with the city’s request of a break-even budget. The attempted relocation to Abbotsford also fell through. Utica had been the Canucks’ Plan C.

A source has indicated Utica, N.Y. is the front-runner to be named home to the Peoria Rivermen, who were purchased from the St. Louis Blues on April 18. …Utica was always somewhere on the radar.

Former NHL goaltender Robert Esche is leading a group of investors looking to bring professional hockey back to Utica. The Canucks have until June 12 to reach an agreement with them and apply to the AHL Board of Governors for the relocation of the Peoria Rivermen franchise to Utica, where they will play out of the 4,000-seat Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Even though Utica may be the front-runner, it might still be difficult to get a deal done. Esche and the city will want a long-term commitment, while Canucks will want something shorter to the tune of one or two years. The Canucks will want to the opportunity to negotiate with the city of Abbotsford again next year after they ran out of time to make the move in time for the 2013-14 season.

Canucks general manager Mike Gillis expressed desire to have their AHL team in the west so the prospects could take advantage of the team’s resources. Any move to Utica would be temporary in the eyes of the Canucks.

If an agreement is not reached by then, the Canucks will be forced to suspend the operations of the franchise and pay the league a $150,000 fee. The Canucks prospects would then have to be individually assigned to different teams.

Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The Vancouver Canucks and defenceman Chris Tanev are expected to begin negotiations on a contract extension soon, according to News 1130 Sports.

Tanev is set to become a restricted free agent on July 5 (granted the Canucks issue him a qualifying offer of $850,500 to retain his rights). He will be looking for a raise from the $900,000 he earned over the course of his three-year entry-level contract.

The Canucks will want to have him locked up long-term before that as he could be a prime candidate for an offersheet with the shrinking salary cap next season. A team could offer a average annual salary of $3.36 million and if the Canucks don’t match, they will be only receiving a second round pick in compensation.

Fans can probably expect a multi-year contract in the ballpark of $2.5 million per season.

He will represent himself in negotiations with the help of his father, Mike Tanev. Mike says he contacted the Canucks last week and hopes to begin negotiations soon. No money figure has been thrown around yet, but he says he knows the market and has a number in mind.

Chris will be working with former NHLer turned fitness guru Gary Roberts for the third consecutive summer. He will be focussing on gaining strength.

#Canucks RFA defenseman Chris Tanev will represent himself in contract talks with Vancouver and with help from his dad Mike.

— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) May 16, 2013

Mike says he contacted the #Canucks last week and hopes to get talks going on a new deal soon. No talks about money yet.

— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) May 16, 2013

Mike says he contacted the #Canucks last week and hopes to get talks going on a new deal soon. No talks about money yet.

— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) May 16, 2013

Mike says tons of agents called him this winter trying to represent his client but he said no.

— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) May 16, 2013

Mike says he knows the market for RFA defenseman and the range he’ll be asking for.

— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) May 16, 2013

Mike says Chris will work with Gary Roberts for the 3rd straight summer and getting stronger is priority #1.

— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) May 16, 2013

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