Rumor: Luke Hughes to Vancouver in Bo Horvat Trade

In case you missed the news earlier today, the Vancouver Canucks announced that they've signed pending free agent Andrei Kuzmenko to a two year contract extension worth $5.5 million per season.

This signing, combined with this past offseason's JT Miller signing pretty much erase any possibility that the Canucks re-sign captain and pending free agent Bo Horvat. After all, the Canucks are cap-strapped as it is and Kuzmenko's $5.5 million salary next season will replace Horvat's equally. No money in, no money out. That's important for Canucks GM Patrik Allvin right now.

There's been no shortage of speculation about where Horvat might end up in a trade with the likes of the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings and Seattle Kraken all being mentioned as having interest in the 27 year old center. But today NHL insider Nick Kypreos reported in his column for The Toronto Star that both the New Jersey Devils and the Dallas Stars have come on aggressive in their pursuit of Horvat and that both teams "want an extended playoff run this spring and seem willing to pay for it."

Kypreo's full comments:

"Hearing that the Stars and Devils are among teams that may be most aggressive for Canucks captain Bo Horvat. Both organizations want an extended playoff run and seem willing to pay for it."

- Nick Kypreos

Call me crazy, but I think Horvat would be a excellent fit with the Stars. The team's top line of Tyler Seguin with Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski isn't likely to be broke up anytime soon, but I think Horvat would be a perfect fit on the 2nd line with the likes of Roope Hintz, Denis Gurianov or even Jamie Benn. The question of course is do the Stars have the assets to pay up? They have draft picks no doubt, but would they be willing to part with a top prospect like Logan Stankoven? The 19 year old World Junior star was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has seen his stock raise tremendously in meantime.

As for the Devils, they have picks to give up and they have several top prospects to trade including Luke Hughes, brother of Canucks superstar Quinn Hughes. Could Luke leave his brother Jack in Jersey and land on a new team with his older, OLDER brother Quinn? It's an intriguing idea and you have to imagine that both sides have given it some consideration. Stay tuned, this could get interesting.