Trade talks intensify for Bo Horvat with front-runner stepping up to make offer

The trade rumors and speculation on Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat have gotten so loud following hockey operations president Jim Rutherford’s press conference on Monday that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes we are getting closer to an actual trade with suitors getting serious.

It has been reported this past week that the Canucks have spoken with pretty much every contender about their captain.

On Friday on the air of the 32 Thoughts podcast with Jeff Marek, Friedman added that the Horvat talks have intensified and some teams have stepped up in the process.

The Boston Bruins, along with the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche have been mentioned as serious contenders for Horvat, however, Friedman isn’t ruling others like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken and New Jersey Devils. The Kraken could even be trying to trade for him and get him signed to a long-term deal. 

It’s been mentioned that discussions between the Bruins and Canucks had picked up recently, with Jimmy Murphy suggesting that a potential Bruins trade package for Horvat would have to include top prospect Fabian Lysell and a first-round pick.

Friedman also pointed how that, with a coveted player like Horvat, he is probably missing teams as well. Some wonder if the Vegas Golden Knights could get in the mix now that captain Mark Stone is sidelined with with an upper-body injury. The New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins have also been hinted at as possible destinations for Horvat, who is definitely the top trade bait out there this season.

However, at the moment, Rick Dhaliwal reports that the Canucks have not given permission to Horvat's agent to talk to teams about an extension.

Horvat, who was just named into the All-Star roster on Thursday, is pending unrestricted free agent on a mission, collecting 30 goals — just one shy of his career high set in 2021-22 — for 49 points in 44 games.

Stay tuned...

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