Vancouver Canucks’ captain Bo Horvat issues statement regarding trade rumours

Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat issued a statement Tuesday following recent rumours of a potential trade. Horvat opens up saying “I am focused on this season and playing for the Vancouver Canucks and helping the team any way I can.” 

Horvat, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, is due for a new contract at the end of the season. Recent rumours came to light when Sportsnets’ Elliotte Friedman reported in his latest 32 Thoughts Column that “it’s not trending well” between the Canucks and Horvat in regards to a contract extension. Then, Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali said Monday that Horvat rejected a Canucks contract offer.

“The Canucks stretched it as far as they can go,” Dhaliwal said. “Even the number the Canucks were willing to go to, they would have been over the cap at the end of the season. Bo has earned the right to hit the free agent market, the Canucks will now take the best offer for Bo.”

Horvat joined the Canucks in 2014-15 after a stellar major junior campaign with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was named the 14th captain of the Canucks in 2019. The London, Ontario product is on pace for a career-high season and has had a hot start to the year. He currently has 20 goals and 29 points in 28 games. He sits fourth in the league for goals behind Buffalos’ Tage Thompson, Dallas’ Jason Robertson and Edmontons’ Connor McDavid. Horvat is in his 9th NHL season with the Canucks and over that span has accumulated 395 points in 600 games. He has added 16 points in 23 postseason games. 

Horvat further stated that “I will not have any further comments this year about my future” The Canucks are currently four points out of a playoff spot after bouncing back from a rollercoaster of a start. They sit sixth in the Pacific Division with 27 points and a 12-13-3 record.