Insider identifies a pair of Atlantic Division teams as potential landing spots for Canucks captain
It's no secret that the Canucks are not having a great 2022-23 season and that the management group is likely going to make some pretty substantial changes at some point this season. One player who may be moved is captain and pending UFA Bo Horvat.
We haven't seen many teams linked to Horvat as of yet, but NHL insider Frank Seravalli noted a couple of possible Atlantic Division teams to watch out for when speculating the acquisition of Horvat on Wednesday, as well as a pair of Western Conference clubs.
Seravalli views the division-leading Boston Bruins and surging Detroit Red Wings as the two teams from within the Atlantic who could pursue the all-star center, who is off to a tremendous start this season.
Horvat is a pending UFA, carries a $5.5 million AAV and can be utilized on a contending team as a rental or as a piece who could potentially be locked up to a long-term deal and help augment a pre-existing core or help assemble a core of players that a team can potentially build around. Through 19 games played this season, Horvat has 15 goals and 6 assists, totaling 21 points.
Adding a point-per-game player to your team obviously has a significant upside, but Horvat provides much more than just scoring. His defensive contribution is of rarity, but he truly is a two-way center that can help a team score and defend in most situations.
The Canucks currently sit 7th in the Pacific Division with a 6-10-3 record after a horrid start to the season. Horvat has been one of the focal points in turning the ship around and if the decision comes down to move him, he would carry tremendous value as a trade chip.
Seravalli also added that numerous teams were interested in Horvat away from the Atlantic. Some notables include the defending Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers, who recently lost Evander Kane to a devastating injury. In both cases, Horvat would likely only be an option as a rental to further their chances of another deep playoff run. Both the Avalanche and the Oilers are an excellent fit for Horvat. They love to play offensively, with 4 of the top 5 players in the NHL being on these teams: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar. These teams could also benefit from the defensive aspects of Horvat's game.
Credit: hockeydb.com, capfriendly.com
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 23 | 116 ANSWERS Insider identifies a pair of Atlantic Division teams as potential landing spots for Canucks captain Of these four NHL cities, what's the best location for Bo Horvat? | ||
| Edmonton | 30 | 25.9 % |
| Detroit | 39 | 33.6 % |
| Denver | 28 | 24.1 % |
| Boston | 19 | 16.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
