Adrian Dater
Only if the Avalanche can sign him right away to an extension. For me, that’s the only way I do a deal for Bo Horvat, if I’m the Avalanche.
The reason? It’s going to cost too much to get him for just a few months of service, either way. Bo Horvat, who has 20 goals in 28 games for the Vancouver Canucks, is only 27. But he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer. He’s in his ninth year with the Canucks, but reports are that contract talks have broken apart, on an extension.
Horvat even released a statement, through the Canucks, saying he only is focused on the season now, and not on his contract. So, the Canucks have to either trade him before the March 3 deadline, or roll the dice and hope Horvat is receptiive to talking again after the season but before free agency.
I like Horvat a lot as a center. He would probably be a perfect guy to put on the Avalanche second line. Not only because he’s a proven goal scorer, but he’s a great faceoff man. He’s at 57.7 percent right now. He plays a rugged game, and is real good on the power play, creating problems in front of the net.
Canucks GM Jim Rutherford drives a hard bargain, so if anything is going to happen between the Avalanche and Canucks, I think it will go close to the March 3 deadline. For one thing, the Canucks are still in the playoff hunt. They are going to want to see if they make it, and Bo Horvat on the roster gives you a much better chance at getting there.
Still, the Canucks have to deal him if they have even the slightest uncertainty whether he wants to talk contract again. You can’t let a guy like that go with nothing in return. Horvat’s agent is Pat Morris, and he also drives a hard bargain. You may recall, he was Ryan O’Reilly’s agent while with the Avalanhe (still is). He absolutely is going to get every dollar he can, with no “hometown discount.” So, I think he’ll be traded. The Avalanche need a second-line center. I still think Alex Newhook and/or Evan Rodrigues can be good No. 2 guys. But, with a Bo Horvat, there is no doubt.
Here’s the thing: I think one of the guys the Canucks would ask for is Bo Byram. Bo, of course, is from the Vancouver area, and played his junior hockey there. The Canucks need a right-shot D more than a lefty, but in the case of Byram, they’d make an exception I’m sure.
I’m sorry, but I don’t trade Bo Byram if I’m Chris MacFarland. He’s just too good a talent, with so much runway still ahead of him. If I had to trade a D-man to get Horvat, Sam Girard would have to be a realistic candidate, because he’d help balance out the money (Sam has a $5 million cap hit). It would probably cost more than that, too. Horvat has scored 20 or more goals six times in his career.
Byram could play more minutes, and maybe the Avalanche go out and get a veteran like Jack Johnson back for the playoff run. Sean Behrens can help fill a Girard vacancy in a year or two.
I don’t do any deal with Vancouver, though, without that extension agreement with Horvat in hand. You can’t give up as much as it’s going to take to get him and then risk him walking in three months or whatever.
I still think it might be more realistic that the Avalanche might a guy like Jonathan Toews at the deadline than a Horvat. It wouldn’t cost as much, and I still think Toews is a quality player who would look great on this team.
I don’t think Ryan O’Reilly is going to come back here. Just a personal hunch. Well, maybe a bit more than that. Too much baggage from the past. Not quite the right fit on this team, it would seem.
Horvat might actually become the biggest jewel in the trade market bazaar. There will be a lot of competition for him. But the Avalanche are a pretty attractive destination now. Players want to play here again.
It should be interesting.