"Here is the good news for Canucks fans keeping their fingers crossed in hopes Willie Mitchell will re-sign in Vancouver — the shut down defenceman has made it through four physicals for four different teams free of any post-concussion symptoms.

But you can also file this under discouraging news for those same fans.

Health has given Mitchell something unlikely this summer — leverage. While it may not be enough to qualify as a "bidding war," clear interest from several teams will allow Mitchell to sit back and cherry pick the best offer, the best situation or the best Salmon run.

The front runners for Mitchell's services are four elite (ish) teams — San Jose, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Washington, where Mitchell was put through the paces Tuesday.

His trip to the Kettler Capitals Iceplex Tuesday, completing his four-city North American tour, indicates the Capitals are considering something equivalent to the two-year offer the Los Angeles Kings tabled last week."