NHL Rumors: Canucks Captain on the Way Out

While most of the trade rumors attention has been on Brock Boeser of late, Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat should not be forgotten in all of the hoopla surrounding the hockey team. Horvat's contract extension talks are basically non-existent, making a trade before the deadline this season extremely likely.

Horvat is having one of the best seasons of his career so far, regardless of all the unwanted noise, he's recorded 20 goals and 29 points in 27 games. Horvat is a pending free agent who is making $5.5 million against the cap and he does not hold any trade protection on his contract.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman had this to say on the Canucks recently:

Obviously, the Canucks are a team to watch. I despise dealing in absolutes, because I’ve learned negotiations can change out of nowhere (see: J.T. Miller), but it’s not trending well for a Bo Horvat extension. We’ll see where else it goes, and Jim Rutherford is not one to rush. He’ll let the market percolate until February, if necessary. (Trade deadline is March 3.)

What makes the Horvat trade unique is the fact because he's 27 years old and up for a contract renewal, there's a ton of non-playoff caliber teams who will have interest and likely make significant offers. Horvat's a core piece who can help turn around a franchise in the very near future. The likes of the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Seattle Kraken and Detroit Red Wings are all teams who have been known to have interest throughout this season and you can likely throw in the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers to the mix.

Where do you think Horvat ends up?