Can the Vancouver Canucks Afford Bo Horvat? Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0MDkyMDM5ODMzMzk2NzQx/usatsi_19511153.jpg] After stumbling through their first 16 games of this season with a 4-9-3 record, the Vancouver Canucks became the frequent subject of trade rumors. They've since won five of their last seven games, entering this week within one point of a wild-card berth in the Western Conference. Nevertheless, they continue to surface in media trade chatter. Bo Horvat's eligibility for unrestricted free agency next summer has sparked conjecture over his future. Recent rumors [https://thehockeynews.com/news/whos-interested-in-vancouver-canucks-captain-bo-horvat] linked the 27-year-old Canucks captain to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/trade-targets-let-the-bidding-begin-for-vancouver-canucks-bo-horvat/] had Horvat sitting atop his recent list of 20 trade candidates for this season. He believes the Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers could come calling if the two-way center hits the trade block. Seravalli also includes Canucks winger Brock Boeser at No. 16 on his trade target list. He indicated that Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said he'll look at moving some of his club's larger contracts if the season spirals out of control. On Nov. 19, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/canucks-and-senators-talked-about-myers-for-zaitsev-swap/] reported the Canucks had discussed a trade that would've sent Tyler Myers to the Ottawa Senators for fellow defenseman Nikita Zaitsev. That same day, The Province's Patrick Johnston [https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-no-shortage-of-trade-candidates-if-front-office-can-find-a-dance-partner] cited a report tying the 32-year-old Myers to the Toronto Maple Leafs, although their interest was said to be lukewarm at best. Two days later, CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal [https://twitter.com/DonnieandDhali/status/1594759504780222464] pointed out Myers, who has a year remaining on his contract, gets a $5-million signing bonus next July. He believed the Senators wanted a sweetener in the deal, which the Canucks were unwilling to do.
