Report: Benning drops hints regarding Horvat deal

With the opening of training camps and the NHL preseason now just weeks away, the spotlight is burning a little brighter on any remaining unsigned free-agents, including Vancouver Canucks forward Bo Horvat. The 22-year-old NHL All-Star broke out in 2016-17 for 20 goals and 52 points in 81 games and established himself as the team’s best two-way player.

Horvat’s play last season is a perfect example of good news / bad news situation for the Canucks because, while they’re obviously thrilled with his development, they’ll now need to pony up the dough to keep him around long-term. Rumors have circled for weeks now about a possible extension, but this morning Canucks general manager Jim Benning clarified the reports on Sportsnet 650 Vancouver radio saying that negotiations are still ongoing but that the team expects to make an announcement by “week’s end.”

What’s the hold up? Bigger RFAs like Leon Draisaitl and Alexander Wennberg have already been locked up, yet Horvat remains without a deal for 2017-18. Sit tight, Canucks fans.