Canucks Talks With Bo Horvat Hit Standstill, Trade Coming?

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that contract talks between the Vancouver Canucks and captain Bo Horvat have not gone terribly well. This is not to say the two sides have stopped talking or that they don’t plan to talk again, only that no ground has been made on a potential new extension, even though the Canucks have maintained that inking Horvat to a new deal is a priority.

So what does that mean?

LeBrun adds that there’s still plenty of time, but there’s also a bit of a deadline involved. He believes that if Horvat is not signed by the March 3 trade deadline, there’s a possibility he could be traded. The Canucks just went through a tricky contract negotiation period with J.T. Miller. They are not interested in doing the same with Horvat, and it sounds like both sides don’t want to talk extension while the season is ongoing. This could pose a problem if a deal isn’t worked out in the next couple of weeks.

In our first hour @ThomasDrance stopped by from Whistler and talked about the latest with Bo Horvat and a contract extension.

Catch up on the full interview as well!https://t.co/8tARojPQ64 pic.twitter.com/IJpZvICXJe

— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) September 23, 2022

Thomas Drance of the Donnie & Dhali show said, “I would be surprised if Horvat has any interest in talking in-season, but I’d also be surprised if there was any sort of declaration from Morris (Horvat’s agent).” In other words, the two sides aren’t likely to talk, but his agent isn’t about to say that Horvat is closed off to talking. Meanwhile, Elliotte Friedman offered his take on the Bo Horvat contract situation and said, “It is not close, not progressing. Some people think it will be in the 6’s, I do not believe that, in the very least in the 7’s.”

Has the Dynamic Around Horvat Changed?

One of the theories out there is that the Canucks have taken their foot off the gas pedal now that the team has signed J.T. Miller to an extension. The push to sign Horvat isn’t there like it was and when Miller signed, the pressure to close on a Horvat deal diminished.

Does that mean a trade is pending? No. Does it mean the likelihood that Horvat is moved has increased? Potentially.

Next: Maple Leafs Quick Hits: Ferguson, Huge Mess & Jarnkrok