NHL Rumors: Bo Horvat a possible Kraken trade target, Senators sale, and Patrick Kane update
Anthony Scultore
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One of the most interesting names currently available on the trade market is Bo Horvat of the Vancouver Canucks.
The 27 year-old center is having a fantastic season with 28 goals and 43 points in 38 games. He’s also heading towards unrestricted free agent status this summer after reportedly rejecting the Canucks latest offer which was under the $8 million plus per season his camp is seeking.
All this has propelled him to the top of many trade bait lists, but where will he land by the March 3rd NHL Trade Deadline?
NHL Rumors: Bo Horvat a possible Kraken trade target
When you look at Horvat, you see a not so typical rental. Considering how young he is, a team trading premium assets will want to sign him long term.
Many of today’s top Stanley Cup contenders either don’t have the assets to make a trade for him and if they do, they lack the cap space to extend him beyond this season.
“There’s nothing imminent here and I think the Canucks will go back to Horvat one more time to see if they can make a deal,” Elliotte Friedman said. “I think it’s extremely unlikely. As we’ve mentioned before they don’t want to go over what they gave J.T. Miller. Obviously there’s going to be a ton of interest. One team I’ve wondered about getting into this, and they’ve taken big steps this year is the Seattle Kraken.”
The Kraken make a lot of sense for a number of reasons. They have the assets like a Shane Wright to make a trade the Canucks would be interested in. Plus they can certainly find a way to give Horvat the big contract he’s looking for.
This season, the Kraken are in great position to make the playoffs as they hold third place in the Pacific Division which should make them buyers at the deadline. They are also just four points behind the Los Angeles Kings for second place and have five games in hand.
It should also be noted that Jeff Marek mentioned Horvat connected to the Colorado Avalanche.
NHL Rumors: Ottawa Senators sale update
While everyone is hoping that Canadian born actor Ryan Reynolds is involved in the purchase of the Ottawa Senators, there could be another powerbroker coming out of Hollywood to buy the team.
According to The Athletic: “Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks is preparing to submit a bid to purchase the NHL franchise when the sale process formally opens.“
Sparks is listed as a director and producer for several films and tv shows on IMDB.
Of course, the focus still remains on Reynolds as Cam Talbot’s new goalie helmet features the Marvel franchise character Deadpool, which is played by the actor.
NHL Rumors: Patrick Kane
A quick note that came out of Saturday’s 32 Thoughts segment is that Patrick Kane is dealing with a knee issue “that may require some cleaning up” per Elliotte Friedman.
Kane, 34, has 27 points in 37 games this season and is being sat out again today for precautionary reasons when the Blackhawks face the Flames.
The belief is that he can play through it but you have to figure there will be an impact to his trade value come the deadline.
