Canucks trade captain Horvat to Islanders in multi-player deal
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The Vancouver Canucks have traded captain Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a conditional first-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, it was announced Monday. The Canucks retained 25-percent of Horvat's cap hit/salary.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that the pick heading to Vancouver is top-12 protected for 2023. If it slides to 2024, it becomes unprotected.
The London, Ont., native was originally selected ninth overall by the Canucks in the 2013 NHL Draft.
"I'm not going to lie, in the summertime and even at the beginning of the year I honestly thought I was going to be a Canuck...and I thought I was going to be a Canuck for life, to be honest with you," Horvat said on a media call following the trade. "Things just didn't work out that way."
The 27-year-old has 31 goals and 23 assists in 49 games this season. In 621 NHL games, Horvat has 201 goals and 219 assists for 420 points.
He believes he can alleviate some of the problems the Islanders have had scoring this season.
"I'm going to try to do whatever I can to help that," said Horvat. "I think I can definitely add that two way element, I'm going to try my best to do that."
The centre is in the final year of a six-year, $33 million deal that carries a cap hit of $5.5 million. Trade rumours have surrounded him all season, which resulted in Horvat releasing a statement last month that he would not be commenting on his future.
The former Canucks captain will not have to wait long to play his old team as the Islanders host Vancouver on February 9.
"This is going to be an interesting game to say the least," said Horvat. "It's going to be weird skating on the other side from my teammates. I've got the game circled on my calendar."
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello confirms that there is currently no extension for the pending unrestricted free agent, but wants to get to work on keeping Horvat with the Islanders beyond this season.
"We really haven't had any discussions yet, hopefully we'll get that done," Lamoriello told the media. "I think it's important as soon as possible. We'll work at it and do the best we can. We'll do everything we can to get it done."
Beauvillier, 25, has nine goals and 11 assists in 49 games played this season. He was taken No. 28 overall in the 2015 NHL Draft and has spent his entire seven-year career on Long Island. He is in the second year of a three-year, $12.45 million deal.
Raty, 20, has two goals in 12 NHL games this year. He also has seven goals and 15 points in 27 AHL games in 2022-23. A native of Oulu, Finland, Raty was taken in the second round (No. 52 overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. Raty is in the first year of a three-year, $2.8 million entry-level deal.