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Vancouver Canucks Summer Showcase Update, update on Bo Horvat's contract
August 3, 2017, 1:50 PM ET [475 Comments]
Carol Schram
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A tidy collection of Canucks tidbits to review in today's blog.

Let's start at the Summer Showcase.

On Wednesday, Jonah Gadjovich and Kole Lind suited up for Team Canada in a 6-5 overtime win over Finland. Canada's lineup was composed largely of the Red group that got trounced 8-2 by the U.S. squad on Tuesday, so the players did a good job of redeeming themselves.

Lind and Gadjovich were both pointless, but both players finished the game at plus-one and Gadjovich had four shots of goal.




At this point, it seems like Gadjovich has the edge over Lind in terms of grabbing a spot on this year's World Junior squad. Two more games to play—Friday at 10 a.m. PT against Sweden, then Saturday at 4 p.m. for the rematch against Team USA.

Michael DiPietro did not play on Wednesday but remains with the team.

As for Elias Pettersson, he returned from his 'injury' and registered three shots on goal as Sweden fell 3-2 to the U.S. team.

Pettersson (No. 14) was a key part of this pretty power-play goal. Only one assist was awarded, so he didn't get a point on the play.




Pettersson was slotted in on left wing for Sweden's first game, when he was hurt. On Wednesday, he played right wing on the second line. Versatile!




Rick Dhaliwal of News1130 spoke to Pettersson today. A few interesting tidbits:










After this week, we probably won't see much more of Pettersson until World Juniors.




Maybe he'll put on some bulk while he's out of sight?

I'm also happy to hear him put this non-issue to bed.




I'm looking forward to seeing what he brings in the Swedes' two remaining games. As mentioned, they face off against the Canadians tomorrow morning. They'll play Finland on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT.

This week's top Canucks highlight comes courtesy of Brock Boeser from Da Beauty League in Minnesota:




Also new—Ryan Dixon of Sportsnet caught up with Michael Del Zotto and Sam Gagner in Toronto as they take part in some offseason training together.




Here's how Gagner foresees his role with the Canucks next season:

“Hopefully, in Vancouver, I’ll get a chance to play some important 5-on-5 minutes along with the power play and help the team get to another level.”

Del Zotto's offseason focus has been to try to better prepare his body so he won't be so susceptible to injury:

“A big thing I’ve been working on, more rest and treatment this off-season, not trying to push myself too much so I can last a little bit longer in the season,” he told Dixon.

Finally—Ben Kuzma dives into the issue for RFA Bo Horvat and his next contract:




Earlier in the summer, I mentioned that Jonathan Drouin's new deal with Montreal, six years with a cap hit of $5.5 million, would serve as excellent leverage for Horvat and his agent as negotiations progressed.

Kuzma suggests that one reason why this negotiation has always been expected to go on for most of the summer could be because "Horvat’s agent is doing his due diligence and using every significant RFA signing as leverage."

As Kuzma also mentions, last year, Horvat's best comparable would have been someone like Vincent Trocheck, who re-signed with Florida for six years at a cap hit of $4.75 million a season. Drouin's number makes it look like the market value has gone up—as done Mika Zibanejad's new deal with the New York Rangers, which is five years at $5.35 million.

Zibanejad is two years older than Horvat, and is pegged to be the Rangers' No. 1 centre next season now that Derek Stepan has departed for Arizona—so his immediate role is bigger than Horvat's. The Canucks may have higher long-term expectations for Horvat as the team's future captain, though.

Offensively, the two players are in the same ballpark—Horvat peaked at 20 goals and 52 points last season while Zibanejad's best offensive year to date was 21 goals and 51 points in his last season with Ottawa in 2015-16.

I'll be happy if the Canucks can bring in Horvat for six years somewhere in that $5 to $5.5 million range. I don't think he's at the Filip Forsberg level (best season 33 goals, 64 points, signed for $6 million for 6 years last summer) and I certainly hope no one's trying to use Ryan Johansen as a comparable (three seasons over 60 points, one year away from unrestricted free agency, just signed for $8 million for eight years).
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