Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Vancouver Canucks playoff run was short-lived and ended in disappointment, but it gave forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin and defenceman Alexander Edler a chance to join Team Sweden at the IIHF World Championships. The tournament came to a close on Sunday with a gold medal victory over Switzerland on home ice for the Swedes.

Swiss defenceman Roman Josi opened the scoring in the first period at 4:45, but the Swedes would score five unanswered goals to take the game 5-1.

Sweden’s Erik Gustaffsson tied the game just under four minutes later. Henrik scored at 11:38 to put the Swedes ahead 2-1 and it would remain that way until the third period. Simon Hjalmarsson and Loui Eriksson added goals. Henrik then scored into the empty net with less than four minutes to play to seal it.

Henrik finished the night with two goals and an assist. His brother, Daniel, had no points with an even rating. Edler did not play due his suspension from his knee-on-knee hit on Canada’s Eric Staal.

Sweden is the first team to win gold on home ice in 27 years.

Kevin Bieksa will be playing his ninth season with the team. Is the love affair over? Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

 CURRENTLY SIGNED

Kevin Bieksa

current status: Signed through to 2016 with full NTC

#3 D | 6’1″, 198 lbs. | Age: 34

Dan Hamhuis

current status: Signed through to 2016 with a full NTC

#2 D | 6’1″, 209 lbs. | Age: 30

Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Vancouver Canucks players Alexandre Burrows, Chris Higgins, and Alexander Edler all have new contracts kicking in on July 5 and their no-trade clauses will be coming into effect at the same time.

Canucks general manager Mike Gillis pledged a “reset” at his year-end press conference and a decision will need to be made whether one, two, three, or none of these players will be part of the “reset.” The Canucks could have up to nine players with no-trade/no-movement clauses next season (assuming goaltender Roberto Luongo is traded). They could hand out a few more too when unrestricted free agency opens.

“In order to get players to play for less than market value, you have to give  them something they can rely upon,” Gillis told the Vancouver Sun when queried about the high number of no-trade clauses on the team.

In other words, these players took a pay cut for a no-trade clause to be part of this core group in Vancouver and would be none too pleased if they were traded just before their new contracts kick in. Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun writes:

But if Gillis were to trade Edler or ask another Canuck to waive his no-trade clause, the spirit of co-operation — the shared sacrifice between club and player — would vanish in Vancouver.

The money the player left on the table to stay here won’t be repaid by his new team. It wouldn’t be long before Canuck free agents demanded every dollar they could squeeze from the team, which is what happens in most NHL markets. This would seriously undermine the environment Gillis has worked hard to achieve and make it more difficult for the Canucks to succeed under the salary cap.

Do you break this “spirit of co-operation” for the better of the team? Will moving Burrows, Higgins, and/or Edler better this team?

Gillis says the game has changed since 2011 and there is no longer the same emphasis on speed and skill as there was after the 2004 NHL lockout ended. Both Burrows and Higgins bring what the Canucks need more of: a willingness to get their nose dirty. Edler brings size to the lineup, but his physical play is inconsistent (along with the rest of his game) and could stand to be more assertive physically in front of the net.