"The Vancouver Canucks and Mark Stowe, the agent for restricted free agent winger Jannik Hansen, will exchange briefs Wednesday in advance of Friday morning's scheduled arbitration hearing in Toronto.

That exchange of briefs is mandatory 48 hours before the actual arbitration hearing.

"You see the opposing side's case, you then have two days to prepare your presentation and rebuttal," Canucks assistant general manager Laurence Gilman said Tuesday. "You know what the other side's position is at that point."

Gilman, who is in Toronto preparing for Friday's hearing, would not say how likely he feels it is the two sides could reach a deal before the hearing.

"We have had continuous dialogue with Jannik's representative, but that is as far as I'll go," Gilman said.

This is the second straight year Hansen has filed for salary arbitration. Last year, he was awarded a one-year deal worth $825,000.

Stowe did not return messages Tuesday, but there is no doubt Hansen is seeking to at least double his salary. He played all 82 games last season, when he scored nine goals and recorded a career-high 29 points. Hansen had a plus-13 rating in the regular season and added nine points in 25 playoff games. He was a regular on Vancouver's third line last season and also killed penalties."