Reports surfaced of the Vancouver Canucks giving center Bo Horvat a contract offer that was rejected by the Canucks captain, meaning he will likely be in play at this year’s trade deadline. He will certainly be a top commodity with his versatility, and 20 goals in 28 games certainly won’t hurt his value either.
Tyler Yaremchuk and Mike McKenna talked about the rumors, and also looked into what teams should be inquiring about his services.
Mike McKenna: “I think the Wild would. I also think the Islanders would be a really good fit. Horvat really seems like a Lou Lamoriello type of player. He can play center, and wing, he’s versatile, and I can even see that being a trade and then Lou tries to extend him as he did previously with J-G Pageau and other deadline pick-ups.
But my biggest one’s the Hurricanes. They need help down the middle. Jesperi Kotkaniemi hasn’t been able to grab a number two role. Their power play’s awful, 27th in the league. Bo Horvat has eight power-play goals. If you want an instant shot in the arm, Bo Horvat’s going to do that for the Carolina Hurricanes' power play. They also have Max Pacioretty coming back. That’s a very different-looking team if they could pull off Horvat and Pacioretty in the lineup.
I think to me, it’d just be a matter of what they’d have to give up. Maybe some defensive prospects, they have a couple of those. Scott Morrow, Alexander Nikishin, could all be maybe somebody that could be enticing to the Vancouver Canucks.
But for me, that’s it. I think Carolina would be a great fit. I’d really like Horvat in that sweater.”
Tyler Yaremchuk: “For me, I’m looking in the Western Conference, and I’m eyeing up the Colorado Avalanche. That’s a team that lost Nazem Kadri over the offseason, and for me, Horvat would be a pretty darn good replacement there. And if you’re Vancouver, yeah you want some future assets, and Colorado does still have their first-round pick for the upcoming season, but what about adding a piece that can maybe benefit from a change of scenery, and could help you a little quicker than maybe a draft pick.
And I’m looking at it, and this would help the salaries as well, what about Sam Girard as a target for the Vancouver Canucks? That’s a guy who the Avs might have to move off their blueline for salary reasons if they want to bring in an impactful forward piece like Bo Horvat.
So I threw on my armchair GM, EA Sports NHL mode hat: Sam Girard, and a first-round pick for Bo Horvat and Luke Schenn. To me, that’s a deal where Vancouver gets the first-round pick that’ll somewhat help you, but Girard, he’s in your lineup, you need d-men. And from Colorado’s perspective, you replace Girard with a more rugged shutdown guy, fits your style more, and you get Bo Horvat, and the salaries work.”
Mike McKenna: “That’s a big swing! If that happens, you definitely deserve a nice gift card from Door Dash, I’d have to say. That would be the appropriate thing to happen for you.”
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