The one-time Kurtenbloggers, Jason Brough and Mike Halford, kicked off their weekday gig on TSN 1040 on Friday. They introduced Jason Botchford as their first ever guest on the show and he came “bearing gifts,” as he said, dropping a bit of a scoop.
According to Botchford, Bo Horvat’s new contract is a done deal. Not only that, he says that it will be a bridge contract, a 2-3 year deal to bridge between Horvat’s cheap entry-level deal and his eventual big payday. While Botchford hedged slightly, saying that he hadn't had the chance to fully confirm it, but Matt Sekeres echoed his report, saying that he has heard the same thing.
@HalfordTSN @JasonBroughTSN terrific interview w/ @botchford guys, and similarly, I have also heard it's a bridge deal b/t Horvat & #Canucks
— Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres) September 1, 2017
A lot of the talk this off-season has suggested that the Canucks want to get Horvat signed long-term, even up to 8 years, in order to get some cost certainty on what might be their best player for years to come. A short-term contract is a risk for both the team and Horvat himself: if he excels, proving himself as a first-line forward, then he has a big money, long-term contract in his future that could make it tough for the Canucks’ cap situation.
On the other hand, if Horvat falters as he faces tougher competition and the opponents’ best defensive players, he could get a lesser payday. A bridge contract could mean that Horvat is betting on himself and his ability to continually improve and build on his game.
But there’s one wrench to be thrown into the works: Horvat’s agent, Mark Guy, denies that a deal is done. Rick Dhaliwal reached out to Guy and he made it clear: they’re still negotiating.
Lots of stories say Bo Horvat deal is done, agent Mark Guy just told me “We are still in negotiations.” #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) September 1, 2017
So who’s right? You would expect that Horvat’s agent would be privy to the details of these contract negotiations, but it would be strange for Botchford and Sekeres to both hear that the deal is done. Keep in mind, Don Taylor reported that the Horvat deal would be announced “early next week.”
Do Botchford, Sekeres, and Taylor each have the same source? And is that source mistaken? We may just have to wait to see if a deal is announced next week.
UPDATE: Trevor Linden has chimed in, denying reports that a Horvat deal is done.
Linden on report of bridge deal to Horvat: "No, nothing at all to that. There is no bridge deal in place for Bo."
— Ed Willes (@willesonsports) September 1, 2017
