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It feels like months ago now, but it was only last week when Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning said the NHL has become a speed and skill league.

The Canucks followed it up by focusing on size, grit and toughness.

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And they handed out big money and long-term deals to do it.

It will either insulate and protect their best young players and give them more opportunity to play. Or it’s going to block their progress and slow down the rebuild.

It all depends on who you ask.

Vancouver’s first day of the 2018 free-agency period will be one that is argued about in the Lower Mainland for months, if not years.

This is the dawn of the Grit Wars in Vancouver.

Photo by Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

On a day that was filled with bargains for other teams, the Canucks needed four-year deals to land Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel for a combined $6 million per year (all figures in U.S. dollars). Add in Tim Schaller and the Canucks committed $7.9 million to three players who aren’t going to rip up the scoresheet.