Report: Seattle Kraken have been “consistent” in their pursuit of Bo Horvat

How would you react if the Vancouver Canucks traded their team captain to their closest geographical rival?

According to a new report by Vancouver hockey insider Rick Dhaliwal, the Seattle Kraken have been “consistent” in their pursuit of Canucks forward Bo Horvat, who is a pending unrestricted free agent.

Dhaliwal shared a new tidbit on the Horvat front in conversation with Don Taylor during Wednesday’s episode of Donnie & Dhali – The Team on CHEK TV.

“Two weeks ago, Elliotte Friedman dropped Seattle as a team in on Bo Horvat,” Dhaliwal said on Wednesday. “I’m just hearing they’ve been the one team consistent in their pursuit of Horvat.

“You’re hearing a lot of teams checking in with the Canucks,” Dhaliwal continued, specifically listing the Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators as other potential suitors. “[Seattle] wants to make the playoffs, Donnie, they want to get better up the middle. Take a look at their middle situation — their best centreman is a 20-year-old Matty Beniers.”

Beyond Beniers, the Kraken also have veterans capable of playing centre in Yanni Gourde, Jaden Schwartz, and Alex Wennberg. Dhaliwal nevertheless reiterated Seattle’s consistency in attempting to land Horvat from the Canucks.

Horvat, 27, is one of the most in-demand players in the National Hockey League right now. The six-foot, 215-pound centre has 30 goals and 48 points in 43 games with the Canucks and only costs $5.5 million against the salary cap this season.

The Canucks originally selected Horvat in the first round (No. 9 overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft. The London, ON product made his NHL debut with the Canucks in the 2014–15 season and subsequently posted six 20-goal seasons with the team.

Through 615 career NHL games with the Canucks, Horvat has amassed 200 goals and 414 points. He added 10 goals and 12 points in 17 games with the team during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, in which the Canucks reached the Western Conference semifinals.