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 鈥渂earing gifts,鈥� as he said, dropping a bit of a scoop.
According to Botchford, . Not only that, he says that it will be a bridge contract, a 2-3 year deal to bridge between Horvat鈥檚 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.
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terrific interview w/ guys, and similarly, I have also heard it's a bridge deal b/t Horvat &
鈥� Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres)
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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鈥� cap situation.
On the other hand, if Horvat falters as he faces tougher competition and the opponents鈥� 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鈥檚 one wrench to be thrown into the works: Horvat鈥檚 agent, Mark Guy, denies that a deal is done. Rick Dhaliwal reached out to Guy and he made it clear: they鈥檙e still negotiating.
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Lots of stories say Bo Horvat deal is done, agent Mark Guy just told me 鈥淲e are still in negotiations.鈥�
鈥� Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports)
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So who鈥檚 right? You would expect that Horvat鈥檚 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, that the Horvat deal would be announced 鈥渆arly next week.鈥澨�
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.
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Linden on report of bridge deal to Horvat: "No, nothing at all to that. There is no bridge deal in place for Bo."
鈥� Ed Willes (@willesonsports)
