Dating back to last season, the Canucks have made several players available for trade, including the likes of Tyler Myers, Conor Garland and Tanner Pearson, and have entertained calls on Brock Boeser. The team, according to sources, would like to move Oliver Ekman-Larsson, but he owns a no-movement clause and has not been willing to waive it.
“We’re going to look to make bigger deals and open up a lot more cap space so we can be involved in some of the talks for some of the players that are going to be available next off-season,” Rutherford said. “Or prior to that. We’re willing to do something right now if something's available to us.”
One key part of the roster that needs to be figured out this season is captain Bo Horvat, who is in the final year of his contract.
Horvat, 27, currently leads the team with 10 goals in 12 games, is believed to be looking for a long-term contract extension worth north of $7.5 million per season. The two sides remain far apart on a deal, as Rutherford confirmed.
“There hasn’t been any movement,” he said. “Our priority is to keep Bo. We recognize what can do for us. I’m very proud of him, I give him a lot of credit. He could lose his focus and be thinking about what’s going to happen with his contract and whatnot, but he came in ready to play and he’s played terrific for us. I hope that keeps going. I hope we can sign him. If we can’t sign him, the better we play, the better return we’re going to get for him. So, it works out for everybody. But ideally, we can figure out a way to keep Bo in Vancouver.”
If the Canucks and Horvat don’t agree to an extension by the trade deadline and the Canucks are still far from a playoff spot, there will be plenty of suitors interested in acquiring Vancouver’s captain, who comes with a $5.5 million salary cap hit.
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