A new general manager for the Canucks could spell the end to old roster loyalties.

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When the successor to Dave Nonis is named, player agents will be working their BlackBerrys to figure what direction the club will be heading in the offseason. Will it be bigger, faster and stronger? Or cheaper?

Count Kurt Overhardt among the curious. As the agent for Brendan Morrison, Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa, he has a vested interest in who becomes the new GM -- especially when it concerns the future of Morrison.

The 32-year-old is an unrestricted free agent and is coming off an injury-riddled season that limited the Pitt Meadows native to 25 points in 39 games.

Morrison also earned $3.2 million and admitted that he might have to accept a one-year, bargain-rate deal this summer if the Canucks want him.

"It's not fair for me to speculate either way with Brendan's future with the organization, but Dave has been nothing but a professional with all my clients in the organization," Overhardt said Monday from his Denver office.

"I have a lot of respect for him and, at the end of the day, he was a player's GM."

Overhardt was able to negotiate a three-year, $11.25-million contract extension for Bieksa that kicks in next season.

He was also able to get Kesler to take a pay cut from the $1.9 million offer sheet from Philadelphia that the Canucks matched, knowing that the centre could cash in after his four-year extension at $1.75 million ends in 2009-10.

Overhardt said of Nonis: "I'm surprised and disappointed for Dave and I know all my clients are. I know for a fact that, in many instances that the public is not aware of, he tried to make moves to improve the organization in the short- and long-term basis."

"It's very difficult to make those moves unless you have parties who are willing to deal with you. He could have allocated some money for some new talent, but he wasn't given that opportunity."

Kesler was also upset by the dismissal.

"It's shocking to me and most people," he told TEAM 1040 radio. "It bothers me a bit. He matched the offer sheet and brought my game to the next level. He cared tremendously about the team."