Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Bo Horvat

Team Canada Names First 18 Players For IIHF World Championship

at CDT | by 3 Comments

April 16: Add Josh Bailey to the Canadian team, as the New York Islanders forward has agreed to join his teammates for the tournament. Unfortunately, Hockey Canada announced that Dunn would be unable to participate, meaning another spot has been opened up on the blueline.

April 12: For all those players who have missed the playoffs, the World Championships provide some respite and a chance to play some more meaningful hockey. For some, it is the highest level of international competition they will ever play in, for others just another chance to represent their country on the world stage.

Team Canada has released a list of 18 players set to compete in the upcoming tournament, with more to come as the playoffs eliminate teams.

Goaltenders:

Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes

Defensemen:

Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators
Vince Dunn, St. Louis Blues
Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
Joel Edmundson, St. Louis Blues
Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers
Darnell Nurse, Edmonton Oilers
Ryan Pulock, New York Islanders

Forwards:

Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders
Anthony Beauvillier, New York Islanders
Jordan Eberle, New York Islanders
Bo Horvat, Vancouver Canucks
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
Brayden Schenn, St. Louis Blues
Jaden Schwartz, St. Louis Blues
Ryan O’Reilly, Buffalo Sabres
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ottawa Senators

The Canadians will be coached by Bill Peters (Carolina Hurricanes), with Mike Yeo (St. Louis Blues) and Bob Boughner (Florida Panthers) assisting. They obviously will have more players added to this group, but already it is quite formidable. The forwards are especially strong, with a half dozen excellent options for the four center positions.

This will be O’Reilly’s fourth straight appearance for Canada, winning two golds and a silver in the last three tournaments. Last year’s squad featured Calvin Pickard and Eric Comrie in net, but both are heading to the playoffs with their respective AHL teams. Chad Johnson, the other goaltender to play last year, is coming off a terrible season in Buffalo.

Western Notes: Blackhawks, Greenway, Horvat, Dahlen, Kovalchuk

at CDT | by 4 Comments

Don’t expect too many changes in the Chicago Blackhawks roster this season. At least that’s what Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times writes as he examines the roster and the team’s salary cap flexibility.

Coach Joel Quenneville admitted that many things went wrong this year, but he believes that if the team comes back and all play better, the Blackhawks should return to the playoffs next season. Factor in the loss of Marian Hossa, the injury to goaltender Corey Crawford and some down years by several key players, perhaps a turnaround is possible.

“If we all collectively have better years in all aspects … I believe we’re very capable of [rebounding],” Quenneville said. “We’ve seen many games this year where we look like we could be a really good team. [It’s] just that consistency, putting that in place.”

Lazerus writes that the team should look into adding a top-four defenseman, but was quick to point out that it’s unlikely the team will go after Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson as that pricetag would be too high even though it looks as if the Blackhawks should have considerable cap space. He also adds the team desperately needs to find a quality backup goaltender to avoid the problems the team had to endure during the second half of this season.

  • Sarah McLellan of the StarTribune writes that while the Minnesota Wild’s bottom line of Tyler Ennis, Matt Cullen and Charlie Coyle has been successful of late, but head coach Bruce Boudreau might break it up as it sounds like the coach is leaning towards starting rookie Jordan Greenway over Ennis. “I don’t know where he’s going to play [in the playoffs], but I’m sure I’ll find a spot,” Boudreau said.
  • Rick Dhaliwal of Sportsnet tweeted that Vancouver Canucks forward Bo Horvat received an invitation to play for Canada at the upcoming world championships in Denmark this summer.
  • Dhaliwal also adds that Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen will rest for a few days before reporting to the Utica Comets of the AHL. Dahlen, a prospect the Canucks acquired at the trade deadline in 2016 for Alexandre Burrows, has been lighting up the Allvenskan league and helped lead his team Timra to be promoted to Sweden’s top tier league.
  • European reporter Alex Nunn tweeted that KHL star Ilya Kovalchuk has confirmed that he will spend the next two or three seasons in the NHL. Kovalchuk will be an unrestricted free agent on April 15, when he turns 35 years old.

Deadline Primer: Vancouver Canucks

at CDT | by 1 Comment

With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up are the Vancouver Canucks.

The Vancouver Canucks found themselves trying to rebuild while continuing to hold onto some of their veteran forwards, namely Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin. The team hoped it could rebuild on the fly this year with new head coach Travis Green and early on, the Canucks started strong, but injuries to key players such as Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi prevented the team from continuing their success. Instead, the Canucks have dropped in the standings and find themselves ready to rebuild for another year.

Record

21-24-6, tied for 6th in Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$4.7MM – full-season cap hit, 2/3 retained salary transactions, 45/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: VAN 1st, VAN 2nd, VAN 3rd, VAN 5th, VAN 6th, VAN 7th
2019: VAN 1st, VAN 2nd, VAN 3rd, VAN 4th, VAN 5th, VAN 6th, VAN 7th

Trade Chips

"Dec

The Canucks have two key trade chips in defenseman Erik Gudbranson and veteran winger Thomas Vanek, but whether the team will move them is unknown. One issue that confuses things is the Sedin twins potential interest in returning for another season next year. If the twins want to come back, the team may be more willing to hang on to their veterans to give the Sedins another year with the potential of making the playoffs.

The team has said they are considering extending Gudbranson, but rumors are that no negotiations have begun, which suggests that Gudbanson is very likely to move to another team unless they start negotiating now. A solid, but unspectacular defenseman, he will never live up to being the third-overall pick in 2010. He would be a quality addition to a team that needs help in that area. If the team wants to move Vanek, they shouldn’t have too much trouble as the 34-year-old Vanek is putting up solid numbers and already has 14 goals. He could be valuable to a team in need of a veteran scorer. In neither case would they be likely

Five Players To Watch For: D Alexander Edler, C Sam Gagner, D Erik Gudbranson, D Christopher Tanev, LW Thomas Vanek

Team Needs

1) Offensive Defensemen: The team truly lacks any offensive defenseman and it shows. Edler, the team’s top scoring defenseman is only the ninth leading scorer on the team. Their power play has little, if any support from their defenseman and the team has few defensive prospects that can put points on the board. A prospect with a good shot and the ability to put the puck in the net might be exactly what the team needs.

2) Prospects/Picks: What Vancouver wants more than anything else is future talent. Vancouver actually has quite a bit of young talent already coming through the system and wouldn’t mind even more. Last year, the team picked up several prospects including Jonathan Dahlen, Nikolay Goldobin and a conditional pick in moving out Alexandre Burrows and Jannik Hansen. If the team can add some picks or another prospect whether it’s an offensive defenseman or more wing help, the team should be better prepared for the future.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Canucks Activate Bo Horvat; Place Erik Gudbranson On IR

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

It’s been a rough stretch for the Vancouver Canucks since early December as the team has lost 14 games in that span. Injuries have been one of the key factors that have dropped a once promising team earlier this season near the bottom of the Pacific Division. However, the Canucks got some good news today, as TSN’s Jeff Patterson reports that center Bo Horvat will be activated off of injured reserve today and is expected to play in tonight’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

To make room for him on the roster, Vancouver placed defenseman Erik Gudbranson on injured reserve with back spasms. He missed Saturday’s game with the injury. The 26-year-old blueliner has played in just 32 games this season with injuries and is rumored to be one of the Canucks top trade chips as the trade deadline nears.

Horvat was shut down for six weeks after suffering a broken foot/ankle injury on Dec. 5. He was medically cleared to travel with the team on Thursday, so the activation is not a surprise. Horvat was on pace for another solid season when he went down. In 28 games with Vancouver, the 22-year-old 2013 first-round pick had 10 goals and 10 assists. His return couldn’t have come at a better time as Vancouver is struggling on offense. They currently rank 26th in the league in scoring, averaging 2.63 goals per game.

Sedins Looking To Re-Sign In Vancouver For Another Year

at CDT | by 2 Comments

Daniel and Henrik Sedin are no different than any other hockey player who has played all or most of his career with the same team. Despite their age and decreased production, they would like to stay with their club – the Vancouver Canucks – for as long as they’ll have them. That’s why the report from Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston yesterday that the duo would like to return to Vancouver in 2018-19 comes as no surprise.

Yet, Daniel and Henrik are different than other players in that they are a package deal. One would expect that the twins would rather retire than split up at this point in their careers. Thus, Vancouver would not be holding on to just one long-time veteran, but two. With only 12 forwards on the ice each game, that would be a major commitment if there are worries that one or both is in serious decline. Who knows how much of a discount the Sedins would take on their current $7MM cap hits as well, making them not only a risky extension, but an expensive one.

For that reason, it makes sense that Johnston reports that the Sedins are only looking to re-sign for one more year in Vancouver. That doesn’t meant that the pair plan to retire in 2019, only that they understand the weight of the decision to bring back two 37-year-olds and that one-year deals would offer some protection for the team should their play drop off as they inch closer to their 40’s. For the Canucks, it is certainly an opportunity worth exploring. It’s been a long time since Daniel and Henrik were 100-point players and in 2017-18 they may not even be 60-point players, but they still provide immense value to a young team. After years of being core players in Vancouver, the twins have settled nicely into more of a complimentary production role and mentoring role for players like Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, and Sven Baertschi. If Vancouver really can get the pair back under contract for one season to continue helping with development of their young talent and providing top-nine production, they should. They may find that they want to continue to keep them around for a year at a time to see through the rebuild process, which would truly cement the Sedins legendary status in Vancouver.

Bo Horvat Medically Cleared To Travel, Will Return Soon

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Vancouver Canucks have been without their top center Bo Horvat since December 5th, after he suffered a broken foot/ankle and was shut down for six weeks. At the end of that game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Canucks were 14-10-4 and looking like they could potentially compete for a wildcard spot in the Western Conference. Since then, the team has gone 4-11-2 and dropped almost completely out of the playoff picture, but got some good news today.

Bo HorvatHorvat has been medically cleared to travel and was back on the ice today, and is expected to practice with the team tomorrow. Horvat is “expected to return to the lineup soon” and the team couldn’t need him more. In the 17 games since his injury the team has scored just 41 goals, relying on Brock Boeser almost exclusively up front. Horvat’s return would make them a much more well-rounded team, and at least offer a chance to be competitive again.

The Canucks were better than many expected to start the year, and have the makings of a good young core of players. With Horvat and Boeser already making their marks in the league, and Olli Juolevi, Elias Petterson and Adam Gaudette tearing up their respective leagues, the future is looking better in Vancouver. In fact, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic (subscription required) recently ranked Vancouver as the best prospect pool of the seven Canadian franchises, with Petterson leading the way at the very top.

Vancouver now sits with 42 points on the season, behind the struggling Edmonton Oilers for second-last in the Western Conference. Though this season may not be destined to end in a playoff spot, Horvat’s continued health and development will surely help them get there before long.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

West Notes: Benning, Horvat, Dunn, Folin, Elie

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

After the Blues locked up GM Doug Armstrong to a four-year extension last week, the focus has shifted to other managers in the final year of their contracts.  One of those is Canucks GM Jim Benning.  Speaking with the press, including Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre, team president Trevor Linden indicated that there will be no discussions on a new deal anytime soon.  While he stated that he is pleased with the current direction of the team, Linden prefers to leave those discussions for the offseason.  Benning is in his fourth season at the helm of the team.

Linden also indicated that center Bo Horvat may take longer than expected to make it back to the lineup than originally anticipated.  While he was initially supposed to miss four-to-six weeks after breaking his foot on December 5th, the Canucks are now expected to be without their top pivot until after the All-Star break which falls three weeks from now.

Elsewhere out West:

  • Blues defenseman Vince Dunn did not accompany the team for their two-game road trip, notes Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link). He is dealing with an illness that kept him out of the lineup on Thursday as well.  The rookie rearguard has been a pleasant surprise this season, logging just under 17 minutes per game of ice time while recording seven points in 39 games.
  • Kings defenseman Christian Folin is expected to be cleared to return to the lineup in advance of Saturday’s game against Nashville, reports Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider. He has been dealing with an upper-body issue for the last couple of weeks.  As Los Angeles is at the maximum roster of 23 active players, they will need to make a corresponding move before they can activate Folin off injured reserve.
  • Stars winger Remi Elie has recovered from his illness and is available to suit up on Saturday against Edmonton, notes Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). He had missed the last two games and is expected to slot in on the fourth line.  Elie has four goals and three assists in 34 contests so far this season.

Vancouver Canucks Will Look To The Future As Deadline Nears

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

A month ago, one might have been able to understand a Vancouver Canucks team that wasn’t planning on selling at the deadline. After all, the club was 14-10-4 and playing like a potential playoff contender. It was unexpected, but with new head coach Travis Green bringing the best out of a rag-tag lineup and young players like Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser leading the way offensively it didn’t seem so far out of the question.

Bo HorvatThen disaster struck. The team would announce that Horvat would be out long-term with a broken foot, and a few days later Sven Baertschi would break his jaw when a puck struck his face. Since Horvat’s injury the team is 2-9-1, and quickly dropping out of any playoff talk. They now sit second-last in the Western Conference, only ahead of the lowly Arizona Coyotes, seven points out of a wildcard spot. Even with a healthy lineup that would be tough to overcome, and the Canucks are far from healthy.

Today, at a press conference to discuss the state of the franchise (audio from Sportsnet 650), team president Trevor Linden spoke about the upcoming trade deadline and how his team would approach it:

I think when you talk deadline, plans going forward a lot can happen. There’s a lot of hockey left between now and then. As always, we constantly talk as a group about where we’re at and where we need to be. We understand that our eye is focused on the future, and we’re excited about some of the young players who’ve taken steps here…

…if there’s an opportunity to make this team better we’re going to do that, but it will be with our eyes focused firmly on the future. 

When pressed on the idea of moving a defenseman in particular, Linden said that they aren’t in a rush to trade away anyone, but that it could change at any moment. The Canucks don’t have a single defenseman signed past the 2019-20 season, and could use several of them as potential trade bait at the deadline. Erik Gudbranson, a pending unrestricted free agent, isn’t the biggest name on the market but is likely to either re-sign with the team or be dealt at some point.

It seemed as though this was the plan all along when the Canucks signed the trio of Thomas Vanek, Michael Del Zotto and Sam Gagner in the offseason. All three were low-risk, high-reward players who could turn into excellent assets for the organization if they returned to their top form. Vanek currently sits second on the team in scoring, while Del Zotto has logged more than 21 minutes a night all season.

Like last season, when the team traded away Jannik Hansen and Alex Burrows for a pair of interesting prospects, the Canucks are one of the most likely teams to sell over the next few months. With interesting assets on the blueline, and a prospect cupboard that’s starting to fill up, a rebuild seems well on its way in Vancouver.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Snapshots: Three Stars, Mahura, Boeser

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The NHL released their three stars of the week, and Patrick Kane comes home with top honors. Kane had five points in three games including two game-winning goals, and moved into fifth on the all-time Chicago Blackhawks goals list.

Brian Elliott and Josh Bailey rounded out the list after a pair of incredible performances. It was Elliott’s second straight appearance on the list, as the Philadelphia Flyers goaltender has now won his last six starts, allowing just nine goals in the process. Amazingly that has followed a stretch where Elliott lost nine straight starts, as he echos the Flyers inconsistent season.

  • Josh Mahura is back with the Canadian World Junior team despite being among the final cuts last week. The Anaheim Ducks defensive prospect will fill in for the injured Dante Fabbro during the pre-tournament games, but likely will return to the WHL before the start of the tournament. Mahura, a third-round pick by the Ducks in 2016, has developed quite well over the last two years and looks like he’ll be a full-time NHL defender one day. With 29 points in 28 games, Mahura is one of the most impressive defenders in the WHL and will try to compete for a role on the Ducks next training camp.
  • Brock Boeser is undergoing an MRI on his injured foot today to find out exactly how much damage was done when he blocked a Mark Giordano shot last night. Boeser crawled to the Vancouver Canucks bench in obvious pain, and wasn’t able to return. Having an incredible rookie season, it would be a tough blow for the Canucks to lose Boeser for any length of time, especially with Bo Horvat dealing with injury already.

Injury Notes: Baertschi, Byfuglien, Ducks

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Vancouver Canucks were dealt another blow today when it was announced that Sven Baertschi will miss four to six weeks with a broken jaw. The young forward won’t need surgery, but it is still a huge chunk of the season to miss right as the Canucks are trying to prove they’re more than just a hot start.

The team is already without Bo Horvat for some time, and are still trying to get Brandon Sutter back into the lineup. While Brock Boeser does his best to keep the offense moving, other players will need to step up both at even-strength and on the powerplay.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top