What Can the Toronto Maple Leafs Pick From the Canucks’ Carcass?
By Luke Ryan
Bo Horvat
Bo Horvat really is the wild card idea here for the Toronto Maple Leafs; the current Vancouver Canucks captain is a pending UFA.
With his contract essentially turning him into a rental in the spring expect Horvat to be the target of every contender, and expect his cost to be sky high.
Sure, there is the possibility that he re-signs in Vancouver, and it’s even likely that if he doesn’t he will cost too much to make trading for him worthwhile. Still, you have to at least consider it when a player like this is even potentially available.
Horvat was a positive Corsi player despite a rotating cast of linemates last season, with an Expected Goals percentage of 59.75%, additionally he was a remarkable 57.02% on face-offs.
Horvat provides excellent defense, and is potentially a 40 goal scorer (last year he scored 30 in 71 games). He’s a leader, and he’s only 27 years-old.
Outside of going for a big name defender to put at the top of the lineup, it’s hard to picture a better fit for the Leafs than one of the NHL’s best two-way players on a tiny cap hit.
The Leafs forwards would be ridiculous with this kind of addition, which is the one thing that makes it seem so unlikely.