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Bieksa willing to take pay cut to stick with Canucks

Kevin Bieksa was a finance major and knows money and the value it represents. He also values loyalty and the degree that has been afforded by the Vancouver Canucks appears to be making one postseason discussion moot.

The unrestricted free agent is expected sign a contract extension with the Presidents' Trophy winners because his play has dictated that consideration. And he's willing take a discount, too.

That's not music to the ears of any agent and Kurt Overhardt refused to discuss contract negotiations because Bieksa would fetch more on the open market. But the blueliner didn't sound like that's the road he wants to travel because less money may mean more long-term happiness and success.

"I think everybody takes less to be play here," the 30-year-old Bieksa said Friday. "It's such a great organization that you want to be here. It's the culture. It's like Detroit. If you want to win, you take less. It's a great team and a great one for a long time and you want to be a part of that. The bonus is the core guys I've grown up and the strong friendships. That factors into the decision-making process.

"There's no need to draw anything out. I'm pretty optimistic we can reach an agreement."

As for other UFA defencemen, the same will likely occur with Sami Salo. But where Christian Ehrhoff slots into salary-cap considerations may be the only true mystery, unless you want to debate how well Dan Hamhuis recovers from offseason abdominal surgery and if Keith Ballard can emerge from the doghouse. Or if Andrew Alberts is coming back in a depth role.

As for Bieksa, he made it clear that his intention is to sign a long-term extension at a reasonable raise from the $3.75 million US he earned for a 22-point, relatively injury-free 66-game season. He was also a team-best plus-32 had 10 postseason points and was a plus-6.

Canucks general manager Mike Gillis was reluctant to discuss contract discussions with Bieksa and Ehrhoff but also indicated interest in bringing Salo back. Free agency commences July 1 and the Canucks have 13 players signed for next season at $45.6 million and the cap ceiling could to rise to $63.5 million.

"We're intending to keep this team intact with the core assets we have and that's what I intend to do," said Gillis. "Right now, I'm very confident [in Bieksa, Ehrhoff] but we just ended and I didn't talk to any player during the season about his contract because we didn't want it to become a distraction and feel like they're being treated differently — Sami Salo included. We now have enough time in my world to get it done."

Salo, 36, recovered from an offseason Achilles rupture and played well down the stretch and especially in the postseason. He earned $3.5 million this season and is eager to return and willing to take less to do that. It might have to be at half the salary after seven points in 27 regular-season games and five playoff points that included three goals.

"Yes, for sure," he said. "It's the latter part of my career. It's a good chance to repeat and with what happened, it's a perfect fit for me."

Ehrhoff, 28, is banking on 50 regular-season points as being the launching pad for a considerable raise on the $3.1 million he earned this season. He had a dozen postseason points and a team-worst minus-13 rating, but was slowed by a left shoulder injury in the final that requires rest and not surgery.

"I just want something that's fair," he said. "If I end up staying, it's natural to come their way a bit. It's just meeting at the right point. I like the group and like where the team is going and we're going to be very close for years and I'd definitely like to be part of it."

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/Bieksa+wi...#ixzz1Pa30tk7U