Salary Cap Projections Update For Next Season Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk1Mjk4NDI1ODE2NzUzODUx/usatsi_19816662.jpg] Vancouver Canucks hockey operations president Jim Rutherford hinted on Monday that some potentially unpopular changes could be coming to his struggling roster. That prompted speculation [https://thehockeynews.com/news/vancouver-canucks-talking-to-teams-about-bo-horvat] that he was referring to pending free agent center Bo Horvat. TSN's Pierre LeBrun [https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/insider-trading-tanner-pearson-bo-horvat-jim-rutherford-vancouver-canucks-1.1907495] reported the Canucks have spoken with pretty much every contender about their high-scoring captain. That includes the Carolina Hurricanes, though they don't usually spend high on potential playoff rentals. He indicated the Canucks seek a young center as part of a multi-asset return, but the Hurricanes won't part with Martin Necas. The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek and Michael Russo [https://theathletic.com/3995956/2023/01/18/nhl-trade-deadline-board-2022-23/] mentioned the Boston Bruins, along with the Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche, as potential fits for Horvat. Boston Hockey Now's Jimmy Murphy [https://bostonhockeynow.com/2023/01/18/nhl-trade-source-bo-horvat-talks-between-bruins-and-canucks-pick-up/] cited an NHL source claiming discussions between the Bruins and Canucks had picked up recently. Murphy's source believes a potential Bruins trade package for Horvat would have to include top prospect Fabian Lysell and a first-round pick. He also included the Detroit Red Wings and Seattle Kraken among those with a potential interest in the Canucks star. Vegas Hockey Now's Owen Krepps [https://www.vegashockeynow.com/2023/01/17/vegas-golden-knights-trade-talk-rumors-vancouver-canucks-re-tool-jim-rutherford] suggested the possibility of the Golden Knights getting into the bidding for Horvat. Vegas captain Mark Stone is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, prompting Krepps to suggest they could free up $9.5 million if Stone ends up on long-term injury reserve before the March 3 trade deadline. Meanwhile, Postmedia's Michael Traikos [https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/traikos-with-the-canucks-waving-the-white-flag-what-does-a-trade-package-for-bo-horvat-look-like/wcm/6e9c98e9-1490-45e1-90d3-1cdfc1d8908c] included the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins as possible trade partners. He wondered if an offer of a first-round pick, a high-end prospect and a young NHL player would be too much or not enough for Horvat.
