"It was hard to take Vancouver GM Mike Gillis seriously back on July 1 when he vowed:

"We're keeping Bieksa."

Gillis had just finished one of his best weeks in Vancouver. He paid a premium to stack his blueline with two key acquisitions, Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard. Both defencemen. Both highly priced.

It left the Canucks better, but reeking of extravagance. Six defencemen making more than $3 million. Eight making more than $1 million. This, on a team which had a payroll drifting well north of the salary cap. This, on a team which has a glaring hole on both its second and third lines.

Even Kevin Bieksa couldn't seem to believe his manager's confidence when, on TSN's Off the Record in July, he conceded the point that something had to give.

"I'm not an idiot. I can put two and two together."

And so did a lot of other people. Many of whom have long been convinced Bieksa, the lone blueliner who has value but not a no-trade, was on his way out.

But seven weeks later, the rumours are the same in both apparent suitors for his services and in their regularity. But the climate is not.

Sami Salo ruptured his Achilles tendon playing floor ball in Finland. He is out indefinitely (probably until January). Willie Mitchell is unsigned and many suspect when he is, it won't be with Vancouver.

And Bieksa is here, in Vancouver wearing a Canucks uniform several weeks before training camp, skating with his teammates (and Mitchell) and acting like nothing ever happened.

"He's a consummate professional," Bieksa's agent Kurt Overhardt said. "He knows he has to show up, and have a great attitude and be ready for the season."