Good timing!

As the Vancouver Canucks convene in Penticton for the 2017 edition of the Young Stars tournament, the team announced on Friday morning that restricted free agent Bo Horvat has come to terms with the team on a new six-year contract.

The deal carries a cap hit of $5.5 million per season. Bo will turn 28 as it expires. There is not a no-trade clause. He would have been eligible for only the last two years of the deal.

Bo Horvat #Canucks

2017-18: $6.5M
2018-19: $7M
2019-20: $5.775M
2020-21: $3.5M
2021-22: $5.775M
2022-23: $4.45M

* No SB's or Trade Clauses pic.twitter.com/Vq44Dl1Ond

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) September 8, 2017

Back on August 3, I ran some comparables and concluded "I'll be happy if the Canucks can bring in Horvat for six years somewhere in that $5 to $5.5 million range." Since then, Leon Draisaitl signed his monster deal for $8.5 million a season while Alexander Wennberg inked a six-year contract with a cap hit of $4.9 million with Columbus—and Horvat landed right about where I expected.

From Horvat's point of view, a bridge deal was never an option.

Just talked with Horvat agent Mark Guy : "We talked short term - long-term but Bo wanted long term deal." #Canucks

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) September 8, 2017

His agent also said no thought was given to holding out to play in Europe or the Olympics this season.

Bo has made the trip out from Ontario and is scheduled to appear at a press conference in Penticton this afternoon.

Couldn't be happier spending the next 6 years here in Vancouver!!This is where my heart is and where I want to be. Let's get going!! #Nucks

— Bo Horvat (@BoHorvat) September 8, 2017

Since the money lines up, it's not surprising to hear Jim Benning bring up Jonathan Drouin's name.

GM Jim Benning on Sportsnet 650 says the Jonathan Drouin contract was the comparable for Bo. #Canucks

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) September 8, 2017

Though Drouin's a winger and Horvat's a centre, the two are both products of the same draft class, who will be expected to be franchise cornerstones for their Canadian teams in the years to come. Now that they're making the same money, they will be compared constantly for the next six years.

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The Canucks also made another, less spectacular signing today.

#Canucks have signed Scottie Upshall to a PTO. He'll attend training camp, which starts Sept. 12.

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 8, 2017

Scottie Upshall will turn 34 on the Canucks' opening night on October 7. Originally drafted sixth overall by Nashville back in 2002, the native of Fort McMurray played his junior hockey with the Kamloops Blazers before going on to log 696 NHL games with five different teams. All told, he has collected 131 goals, 266 points and 569 penalty minutes. He topped out at 18 goals with Phoenix in 2009-10 and 37 points with Florida in 2013-14 but is better known for bringing some grit to the lineup, and for his penalty killing.

Upshall apparently also has a brand new Lululemon endorsement. That's very Vancouver!

#NewProfilePic @lululemon pic.twitter.com/BnypIF5wNA

— Scottie Upshall (@ScottieUpshall) September 8, 2017

As I said when Ryan White was signed, my expectation is that these PTO players will mostly be used to fill out the split-squad rosters while most of the veterans play in those preseason games in China. That being said, White and Upshall are the kind of veterans that would bring some physicality to a Canucks team that doesn't have much of that. It'll certainly add some intrigue at camp.

For now, though, we focus on the kids!

The prospects have gathered in Penticton and are getting set for their first game tonight against the Winnipeg Jets.

Game day. #Canucks @Sportsnet650 pic.twitter.com/m1HQmyOyap

— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) September 8, 2017

I haven't seen any indications of the full lines, but it looks like we'll have this leading the way up front:

Canucks and Jets tonight on Sportsnet 650. Boeser plays with MacEwen and Carcone.

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) September 8, 2017

And this on the blue line:

Based on first practice, expect Juolevi to be paired with Chatfield in Penticton. #Canucks @sportsnet650

— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) September 7, 2017

I like the looks of those combos. I have faith that Boeser and Juolevi will dazzle, and I'm hoping that Zack MacEwen and Jalen Chatfield will be the two prospects who play well enough to get people talking.

Here's Ryan Johnson's rundown of what to expect this weekend.



The tournament kicks off with the Battle of Alberta at 4 p.m. this afternoon. The Canucks and Jets hit the ice at 7:30.

You can catch the new radio broadcast team on Sportsnet 650. I haven't seen any notes on the Canucks feeds about a video stream for the game but if you can't find it on their website, or the Facebook or YouTube channels, it will definitely be on WinnipegJets.com.

I'll be looking for the stream myself! I'm in Vancouver working tonight, then will head up to Penticton on Saturday.

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