After struggling through the first two months of the 2021-22 season, the Vancouver Canucks won 32 of 57 games under new head coach Bruce Boudreau and narrowly missed the playoffs. They entered this season hoping to build on that performance but are 2-5-2.
The Canucks already made a move to bolster their blue line by acquiring Ethan Bear from the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. But trade rumors in the opposite direction could dog the club if it fails to improve in the coming weeks.
Team captain Bo Horvat could become the prime target of that conjecture.
The 27-year-old center is in the final season of his contract, which carries an average annual value of $5.5 million and lacks no-trade protection.
A skilled, hardworking two-way forward and leader who is strong in the faceoff circle, Horvat has reached or exceeded 40 points in six of the last seven seasons. He will draw plenty of interest if he hits the open market as an unrestricted free agent next July.
Horvat will also be in line for a significant raise. On October 3, CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal noted Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggested the Canucks captain is comparable to the Philadelphia Flyers' Sean Couturier, who's earning an annual cap hit of $7.8 million on an eight-year contract.
The Canucks had contract-extension talks with the Horvat camp during the offseason. In September, TSN's Pierre LeBrun observed those discussions had been quiet for most of the summer. On Oct. 27, the Toronto Star's Nick Kypreos reported hearing the Canucks captain rejected a lowball offer that wasn't close to what comparable centers are making.
Horvat could get moved if the Canucks continue to falter through November and December. Here are five potential trade destinations and what it might cost to acquire him. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.
Carolina Hurricanes
Led by Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teräväinen, the Carolina Hurricanes pack a potent offensive punch. However, they have a potential weakness on their second line where Jesperi Kotkaniemi is struggling to fill the center role following Vincent Trocheck's departure via free agency to the New York Rangers.
If Kotkaniemi fails to improve, Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell could go shopping for help. With a projected $8.6 million in trade-deadline cap space, he has sufficient room to make a significant addition. Waddell also has a recent trade history with the Canucks, having shipped Ethan Bear to them Friday.
Horvat could be an excellent fit as the Hurricanes' second-line center. He has the offensive skills to mesh well alongside wingers such as Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis and Martin Necas plus his defensive abilities would make him a solid addition on the penalty kill. He'd also provide them with an additional boost to their leadership.
Waddell could be willing to part with his 2023 first-round pick, as it's likely to be near the bottom of that round. He could also attempt to include Kotkaniemi in the deal, but the Canucks could prefer a prospect defenseman such as Scott Morrow or Alexander Nikishin as part of the return.