Two of the biggest names in this summer’s unrestricted free agent market are no longer available.

TSN. Ca reports the Vancouver Canucks have re-signed Daniel and Henrik Sedin to identical five-year contracts worth $6.1 million per season.

For Canucks general manager Mike Gillis this brings to a successful conclusion months of discussions with the Sedins and their agent, which at times appeared several times on the verge of breaking down.

At one point the Sedins had offered up identical 12-year, front-loaded $63 million contract offers to remain with the Canucks but Gillis wanted no part of such long-term deals.

Obviously the Sedins desire to remain together in the same city where they’ve played their entire NHL careers was more appealing than trying their luck in this summer’s UFA market, where concerns over cap space could’ve significantly limited the number of teams interested in the twins.

For the Canucks it’s the smart signing as the Sedins have for the past three seasons been their best offensive players.  For a team lacking offensive depth beyond their first line losing the twins to free agency would’ve have an adverse impact as Gillis wouldn’t have been able to adequately replace them via free agency or trade this year.

With the Sedins now off the UFA market that leaves Marian Hossa, Martin Havlat, Marian Gaborik and Mike Cammalleri as arguably the best available free agent scoring forwards.