Vancouver Canucks

Bo Horvat has spent his entire eight-year NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks. He's been the team's captain since 2019. And he's been a key offensive contributor throughout his tenure.

However, the future is uncertain for the 27-year-old center. That's because after the 2022-23 season, Horvat is set to become an unrestricted free agent. If he hits the market, then there will be interest from other teams.

But it's possible Horvat won't become a UFA. There's still a chance the Canucks could sign him to a long-term extension and ensure that their leader won't be going anywhere next summer.

At this point, though, that doesn't seem like the strongest possibility.

According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic, there's a "pretty sizable gap" between the positions laid out by both the Canucks and Horvat's side in extension discussions. But that could always change.

"There's lots of time for the Canucks and Horvat's representatives to find a way over the next few months, and it is the Canucks' absolute priority to get their captain signed to a long-term deal," LeBrun recently said on TSN's Insider Trading.

However, there's also a reason why Vancouver feels "a bit less pressure" to re-sign Horvat. That's because the Canucks have already inked forward J.T. Miller to a seven-year, $56 million deal earlier this month, so they have at least one of their top offensive players under contract for the long term.

"In other words, they have a delicate salary cap position, and a Horvat extension has to fit within that long term," LeBrun said.

Of course, Vancouver is a better team when it has the option to put both Horvat and Miller on the ice. So it may be wise to try to find a way to make a Horvat deal work financially.

But what will happen if the March 3 trade deadline is approaching and Horvat still doesn't have a contract beyond the end of the upcoming season?

"We'll see where this goes, but certainly my sense is that if Horvat is not signed by the March 3 trade deadline, there is a possibility the Canucks would trade him instead of losing him for nothing come July 1," LeBrun said.

It would make a good bit of sense for Vancouver to do that. If the two sides are still substantially far apart in contract negotiations in March, then they'll likely have a good idea of whether an extension is still possible.

Horvat has been a solid player for the Canucks. He's tallied 52 or more points in four of the past six seasons, including during the 2021-22 campaign, when he had a career-high 31 goals and 21 assists in 70 games.

But Vancouver also shouldn't be willing to pay Horvat so much that its financial situation then prevents it from making other moves. The Canucks haven't made the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons, so they can't afford to overpay players when they're not having success.

That's why Vancouver should do its best to get an extension done with Horvat (and as soon as possible), but it also has to be smart about its finances. If Horvat is looking for too much, then the Canucks may be better off using those resources elsewhere.

With the 2022 NHL draft less than two weeks away, teams around the league are beginning to focus their energies on moves to improve their rosters and that always includes trades.

And the Vancouver Canucks, in particular, have to figure out what they are going to do when it comes to their high-profile trade target, J.T. Miller.

Will they keep him or make a deal? Right now, all signs are pointing to the latter.

According to The Athletic's Rick Dhaliwal, the Canucks have been listening to offers on their star left winger for a while now.

"The Canucks have made teams aware they’re listening to offers on J.T. Miller," Dhaliwal said on the Donnie and Dhali - The Team show. "I got to the Miller camp this morning and they are not surprised, folks, that these reports, the Canucks are listening on Miller.

"In fact, one source told me today the Canucks have been listening to teams about Miller since February ... That’s five months ago. So, clearly it tells me the two sides are far apart on Miller; his worth on a new deal."

Vancouver has missed the playoffs the past two seasons, so the Canucks fans presumably won't be happy that their team is planning on moving a player who just logged a career-best 99 points this past season, especially since he has one year left on his deal.

But here's the rub: When players have the kind of year Miller just had, they want to cash in and get long-term deals.

If Vancouver doesn't pay the 29-year-old now, he'll walk in free agency next offseason for nothing.

Ryan Johnson, who was recently promoted to assistant to general manager Patrik Alvin, shared what his boss is thinking.

"At this point you’ve got to look at all options," told Donnie and Dhali. "Right now he’s a Vancouver Canuck and we prepare as if he is, but obviously there's discussions being had that obviously, now as the draft approaching, we've always got to look at options to make yourself a better team in the short term and the long term and that's a process Patrick is going through with all our players.

"We need to push ourselves to get a little uncomfortable to get better. We want to get better and this isn't a reference to J.T. Miller, but sometimes you got to make hard decisions as an organization to do that."

Right now, Miller is a bargain at the $5.25 million he's owed next season, but to keep him, the Canucks will need to give him a raise that pushes him into the $8.5 million to $9 million range on an extension.

But since Vancouver has been fielding offers on Miller for almost half a year, it must not be willing to pay market rate for a player who racked up 99 points.

So that means the alternate captain's tenure with the team could be nearing its conclusion.

The question is, though, should it be?

As far as the front office is concerned, clearing cap space is crucial to the rebuilding process, but if they could re-sign their star for a reasonable price, it makes all the sense in the world to retain him to be competitive and find a way to make the playoffs.

Vancouver has only made the postseason twice in the last nine years, so the fanbase is likely past its breaking point with the team's lack of success.

With that in mind, it may not be prudent for the front office to move its best player.

As Alvin said, though, tough decisions have to be made and there's precious little time before free agency begins on July 13.

If Vancouver keeps him, it's not going to be cheap, but Miller's production and grit is worth it.

Should the Canucks decide to move him, there are a number of teams willing to make their move.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Washington Capitals are one of them.

"Miller, I still think that it's a big contract that he's asking for," he told Donnie and Dhali. "I think the Canucks like other teams are worried about the term for him. I think now that Washington has lost {Nicklas} Backstrom and no one seems to know what the timeline here is, what are they gonna do?

"I've heard Kadri's name connected to the Capitals, I've heard Miller's name connected to the Capitals, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's the kind of guy that's on their radar."