NHL Rumors: Canucks & Blue Jackets Linked to Blockbuster

The Columbus Blue Jackets an interesting team to watch on the trade market this season. Even though the Blue Jackets are struggling, expect them to be major players as they are already shifting their focus to next season and beyond. Recently, the team was linked to the Vancouver Canucks and specifically Bo Horvat as hockey insider Elliotte Friedman sees a potential match. 

Columbus is desperate for a number one center who can play between Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine (one he's healthy). Horvat fits the bill and more as the Canucks captain is a polished 200-foot player who is on s scoring spree early on this season. He's recorded 14 goals and 20 points in the first 18 games this season.

Vancouver is struggling and are open for business. The team sits with a 6-9-3 record on the season and at this point, contract extension talks with Horvat have gone nowhere. He doesn't hold any trade protection, so expectation is he'll be moved at some point this season. 

This deal is likely going to come down to Horvat's willingness to sign a long-term extension with Columbus. The Blue Jackets aren't going to ship assets to Vancouver for two months of Horvat to end their struggling season. Their looking to the future and one that could perhaps include Horvat moving forward.

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