NHL Rumors: Bo Horvat, Patrick Kane, Matt Dumba, and more
Anthony Scultore
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The NHL Trade Deadline is a little over a month away and we check in on the latest rumors surrounding Bo Horvat, Patrick Kane, Matt Dumba and more.
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NHL Rumors: Bo Horvat
One of the hottest names expected to be traded is Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat. The pending UFA is having a tremendous season and wants a big max-term contract.
The 27 year-old isn’t a typical rental. Teams looking to acquire him will most likely want to work out an extension. Especially when you consider the speculated ask for Horvat is three pieces that includes a top prospect.
According to Pierre LeBrun, one of the potential suitors are the Carolina Hurricanes. They just lost Max Pacioretty for the year, and may now be in the running to acquire Horvat.
“The Canucks continue to explore what the trade market looks like for, really, their No. 1 guy that could be dealt; that’s Bo Horvat,” LeBrun said. “He’s having a career-year and they’ve pretty much checked in with almost every contender. One of them being, I’m told, the Carolina Hurricanes. A lot of people like the Hurricanes as a fit for Horvat… But, the price is too steep I think for the Hurricanes at this point.”
Another insider, Elliotte Friedman also noted that trade talks have intensified last week as the Canucks sort the serious suitors from the pretenders.
Horvat has scored 30 goals and 49 points in 46 games this season to date.
NHL Rumors: Patrick Kane
There’s a lot of reports out there regarding Patrick Kane and if his nagging lower-body injury will require surgery. Should he be have any procedure, it will have a serious impact on not only his trade value but whether or not he gets moved at all.
That being said, it looks like we want know much for either him or Jonathan Toews until next month.
“I think all the parties involved expected to have a clearer picture by now,” Jeff Marek reported. “With so many teams in contention and injuries always a factor, it doesn’t sound like Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews are prepared to make a decision until mid-February.”
Kane, 34, has 30 points in 41 games.
Toews, 34, has 27 points in 43 games.
Both players have a $10.5M cap hit and have full no-move clauses.
NHL Rumors: Matt Dumba
I’m not sure whether or not Matt Dumba will be traded by the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline or not, but healthy scratches this week raise the possibility.
Dumba, 28, has 12 points in 43 games this season. He’s a pending UFA coming off a $6M AAV for a Wild team that will be searching for cap space after giving Matt Boldy a nice new extension. The reality that his time with Minnesota is coming to an end isn’t lost on him.
“I’m just making the absolute most of it and enjoying every day as a Minnesota Wild player,” Dumba told The Athletic “I’m trying to make the most of coming to the rink every day with these guys because you never know when things could change. I’m trying to stay in the moment, and that’s how I deal with it.”
According to Elliotte Friedman, teams have been inquiring about Dumba with GM Bill Guerin responding, “Make it make sense for us.”
NHL Rumors: Vladislav Gavrikov
Another defenseman that many teams are looking at is Columbus Blue Jackets Vladislav Gavrikov. The 27 year-old is a talented defender with 10 points in 45 games this season.
“Columbus is allowing teams to speak to Gavrikov as they try to facilitate a trade,” Friedman said Saturday night. “We’ve seen this with Timo Meier that the Sharks are allowing teams to speak with him. I don’t believe the Canucks are allowing teams to speak with Bo Horvat.”
The Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs are rumored to be pursuing Gavrikov who will be a UFA this summer.
NHL Rumors: Nick Ritchie
According to Arthur Staples of The Athletic, the New York Rangers have checked in on forward Nick Ritchie.
One name to keep an eye on is Coyotes wing Nick Ritchie. He brings the sort of “heavy skill” that teams usually want for the stretch drive and playoffs; it’s believed that the Rangers would be in the market for that kind of player, especially given Ryan Reaves’ departure and the lack of a physical, aggravating forward in the top nine. A league source said the Rangers inquired with Arizona on Ritchie before last year’s deadline but the winger having a year left on his deal then, plus he’s a pure left wing, scuttled those ideas.
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Ritchie, 27, has registered 18 points in 43 games this season. The pending UFA has a cap hit of $2.5M and would be a nice addition to the Rangers fourth line for the playoffs.
