Trade Talk Picks Up Involving Bo Horvat Being Moved by Canucks

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun wrote in a recent article that the Vancouver Canucks might be open to trading 27-year-old center Bo Horvat. With talk of contract extension issues already out there, the Canucks have struggled early in the season but Horvat has not. If he’s productive and the value is there to move him, LeBrun seems to think that’s a real possibility.

Essentially, if the Canucks don’t get back to looking like a playoff team, they may need to make some personnel changes. Many believe it will start with the coaching staff but President Jim Rutherford has already stated the players aren’t necessarily safe either. That could lead to deals and the player with undoubtedly the highest value on the market will be Horvat. He’s got 12 goals and 16 points in 14 games.

LeBrun explains:

Horvat doesn’t have no-trade protection, so it’s a clean process for the Canucks as far as being able to speak to any team. And they’ll have plenty interested, especially if they’re willing to eat some of his $5.5 million cap hit to maximize the return. It wouldn’t surprise me if there are even non-playoff teams with trade interest in Horvat, to get a jump start on July 1 and sign him to an extension.

TSN was looking at potential fits around the NHL if some players became available for a trade before the deadline. Mike Johnson suggested the Hurricanes go after Horvat, which would then give them Sebastian Aho, Horvat, and Jordan Staal as a 1-2-3 punch down the middle. The Detroit Red Wings have been linked to Horvat and there are other teams that might be interested if they think or get word he’d sign a long-term extension.

Next: Red Wings Could Lose Dylan Larkin to Acquire Bo Horvat [Report]