The NHL and NHLPA have finished their 113-day game of chicken, the longest game of its kind since Ren McCormack dusted Chuck Cranston along the Chattahoochee River:

Now it’s time for Canucks GM Mike Gillis and the potential suitors for Roberto Luongo to commence theirs. And help us all (especially those who have done dozens of Luongo stories over the last year) if it takes 113-days before someone blinks in this one.

Luongo met with the media Monday morning in South Florida and, once again, said all the right things. He’s okay with returning to Vancouver. He has a great relationship with Cory Schneider. He’s open to being dealt if it helps the Canucks. That’s all fine and dandy.

But make no mistake, Luongo wants this resolved pronto. He may have a great relationship with Schneider but he does not want to be a backup. And considering his success as a starter, as well as his cap hit of 5.33 million, it makes no sense that the Canucks keep him as one.

Gillis, however, has never been one to rush into any decision. He says he has no problem starting this season with that much money tied up in his goalies and when he says it you almost believe him.

Gillis feels like he holds the hammer in this one. He feels he can make a hockey trade to help his team and doesn’t look at moving Luongo as just a salary dump. And he’s right IF there is more than one team bidding for Luongo’s services.

Roberto Luongo on trade speculation to #Leafs said other teams are in the mix.

— Tony Ambrogio (@SNTonyAmbrogio) January 7, 2013

Gillis is not the only one playing coy in this scenario. Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle declared Monday that the Leafs have NHL-caliber goaltending. And in the past, Leafs GM Brian Burke has publicly feigned disinterest in Luongo and has apparently scoffed at the supposed asking price.

Here is the thing. There are truths in what everyone is saying. But do they trust their views?

Gillis has a team that is built to win now. Unfortunately, his second-line centre is not fit to play now. Ryan Kesler is done for the next month, and some reports have him missing much more than that.

Can the Canucks survive a significant amount of time without Kesler in a shortened season? Can the Canucks afford to find out if they can?

I would suggest no. Moving Luongo sooner rather than later would help Gillis fill the void left by Kesler.

As for the Leafs, they may indeed have NHL-calibre goalies but do they have playoff calibre goalies? Can Brian Burke, in the last year of his contract, bank on James Reimer to get him an extension? That would be a gamble, no?

Luongo, no matter what you think of some of his playoffs meltdowns, has been one of the best goalies in the league for a long, long time and there is no question he would be a big upgrade on the youngsters the Leafs have now.

Sure, Mike Gillis would get maximum value from the Leafs if Toronto’s goalies struggle out of the gates and Burke was forced to make a move. But what if they don’t struggle early? And what if the Canucks do? The balance of bargaining power can change very quickly.

I say if there is a deal to be made then do it. Don’t wait in hopes that the other side panics and pays a premium later on. That’s a dangerous game to play.

So get off your tractors fellas and get it done.