NHL Rumors: Canucks Want Specific Player In Horvat Trade With Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are amongst one of many teams that have shown interest in Vancouver Canucks' captain Bo Horvat. This could be for a couple of reasons. Either they still aren't sure if they will be able to come to an agreement with Dylan Larkin on a contract extension and need a top centre as a backup plan, or they want a 1-2 punch of Larkin and Horvat to lead them out of the rebuild.

Larkin and the Red Wings are still about $1 million apart in contract talks which is decent news considering they are closer than they were. With the Canucks making a decision that they will be moving forward without Horvat after singing J.T. Miller and Andrei Kuzmenko, the team will be looking for the best return. This will likely involve a sign-and-trade with a team. The Red Wings have the cap space this season and beyond to give Horvat what he wants and what he's earned from this season.

Rick Dhaliwal said to keep an eye on Michael Rasmussen for the Canucks if a Horvat trade with Detroit happens. Rasmussen has started to come into his own this season. He is the Red Wings' ninth overall pick in 2017 and is approaching his career high in points in just 46 games. He has earned a place in the top-six for Detroit this season, and is capable of playing both centre and the wing.

The Canucks are looking for a player or more in return for Horvat who could help them stay competitive next season. With the emergence of Rasmussen, he would be on the Canucks' radar, especially if the price is upped with a sign-and-trade. The young Red Wings player still has one year left on his deal at $1.46 million AAV before becoming a RFA. This is the exact type of player and cap hit the Canucks are looking for to help alter things for the better before next season.