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Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund have hit a fork in the career road.

Fortunately for the restricted free-agent Vancouver Canucks, who endured under-performing and injury-plagued seasons, they are facing a yield sign instead of a stop sign.

General manager Jim Benning is willing to give forwards Baertschi and Granlund another chance to prove the 25-year-old veterans are part of the solution and not part of the problem for an NHL team that’s trending younger.

“That’s the point they’re at in their careers,” said Benning. “They’re either going to take the next step and be good NHL players that can produce, or they’ll fall by the wayside. It was a difficult year for both of them and maybe it was adjusting to the style of play that Travis (Green) wanted.

“They have a lot to prove and I expect them to rebound from where they were at.”

Photo by Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Baertschi had 14 goals and 15 assists in 53 games — a pace that would have meant 21 goals over 82 games — before his season ended with a shoulder separation. Granlund was reduced to a checking role and had but eight goals and four assists in the same amount of games before his season ended with ankle surgery.

The forwards have arbitration rights and no leverage, so they’ll be qualified but won’t see significant raises or security.

Baertschi’s salary-cap hit this season was US$1.85 million and Granlund’s was $900,000. The Canucks have the hammer and could offer a one-year, show-us deal, much like they did when Erik Gudbranson returned this season from wrist surgery.

“That’s a fair statement,” said Benning.

It’s also fair to take issue with Baertschi because he was put in a situation to succeed. And what about Granlund’s deployment? He went from 19 goals the previous season with Henrik and Daniel Sedin to a bottom-six checking role. That’s tough to stomach in a contract season.

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