Jason Jaffray could handle a contract snafu keeping him from playing for the Vancouver Canucks last season.

He could handle toiling for five years in the minors and he could handle the Kootenay Ice trading him in the midst of their 2002 Memorial Cup run, despite him being team captain at the time.

Jaffray, a winger who is in the midst of finalizing a two-year, two-way deal with the Canucks, has been saddled with much worse than anything hockey can dish out at him.

The Vancouver Canucks have to make their intentions known this week on the potential buyout of disappointing centre Marc Chouinard.

Chouinard, who finished last season in the minors, has a year remaining on his contract at $1.1 million and must clear waivers before the buyout process begins (all figures are in U.S. dollars).

Cowan, meanwhile, will become an unfettered free agent Sunday unless his representative, Rollie Thompson, and Canuck assistant GM Steve Tambellini can wrap up a deal.

"Steve and I had a couple of pretty good talks in Columbus over the weekend," Thompson said Monday. "We're going in the right direction. Both parties would like to make it happen."

Cowan, who was a waiver-wire pickup from the L.A. Kings in late December, earned $532,000 US last season. It's believed he's seeking a two-year deal.

Tambellini, who is handling many of the contract negotiations, also opened discussions with Krajicek's agent, Petr Svoboda, at the draft. Svoboda described the talks as "positive" but declined any specifics on term despite reports of a two-year offer.

"It doesn't really matter as long as Lukas has another good year and plays well," said Svoboda, the former NHL blueliner. "He was happy with his first season in Vancouver, but he knows he could do better. He loves the town, the organization and the players, so that's the key."

"Ryan is really thrilled about about this opportunity with Vancouver and he's looking forward to getting into camp. And, probably more importantly, he's looking forward to getting back from Europe in one piece."

Duberman said Canucks management has made no promises, other than the standard one of providing an opportunity. Vancouver already has three established centres under contract in Henrik Sedin, Brendan Morrison and Ryan Kesler. Shannon, presumably, would have to vie for fourth-line playing time with the likes of Rick Rypien and Alex Burrows.

"I know Ryan is a good enough player to be on their roster, especially with his speed, but nothing has been promised and we know that," continued Duberman.

Labels: Chouinard, Cowan, Jaffray, Krajicek, Shannon

Kevin Bieksa knows there's nothing worse than wounded pride, because any non-playoff team can be a handful if taken lightly.

The Canucks defenceman admitted that's what happened Tuesday at St. Louis in a 3-1 loss to the Blues, who prevailed without traded stars Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin.

"We've learned that lesson the hard way against a team we should probably beat," said Bieksa.

"They had lost their best two players and I think Louie [Roberto Luongo] put it best -- there are no free points.

"We definitely want to come out and put them [Coyotes] away early because we know they have nothing to lose and will be playing for pride. We want to give them a reason to shut it down a little."

The Canucks sang that same refrain before home-ice losses to Chicago (Feb. 7), a shootout setback to Columbus (Jan.30) and an overtime loss to Los Angeles (Jan. 26).

• Alain Vigneault hopes that Taylor Pyatt can play tonight. - Ben Kuzma (Vancouver Province)
• The Coyotes are starting over. Again. - Iain MacIntyre (Vancouver Sun)
• The Manitoba Moose are welcoming Marc Chouinard with open arms. - Adam Wazny (Winnipeg Sun)
• They're getting their rosters ready for the playoffs as well. - Adam Wazny (Winnipeg Sun)
• Canucks' 2006 1st-rounder, Michael Grabner, has bounced back from an earlier tongue-lashing from coach Bill Peters. He has three hat-tricks in the last two weeks and was named the CHL's Player of the Week last week. - Spokesman Review, WHL.ca
• Another Canucks draft pick, Mason Raymond, was also named WCHA's Offensive Player of the Week. - UMD Bulldogs

Labels: Chouinard, Coyotes, game day preview, Grabner, Moose, Raymond