There was much speculation about Bo Horvat leaving Vancouver. Well the speculation is over, as the Canucks dealt their captain to the New York Islanders on Monday.
Horvat will head to Long Island in exchange for forward Anthony Beauvillier, prospect forward Aatu Raty and a conditional first-round pick in this year's draft.
The trade didn't come as much of a surprise as Horvat will become an unrestricted free agent and had not been able to reach any common ground with the Canucks over a new contract.
But it was a surprise to many to see Horvat land with the Islanders, who were not really discussed among the potential teams rumored to be interested in him.
Currently the Islanders are two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final spot of the Eastern Conference wild-card spot. However, the Penguins have played three fewer games than the Islanders, not to mention the Buffalo Sabres are in the mix and have played the same number of games as the Penguins.
The addition of Horvat gives the Islanders a top-six center whose 31 goals are tied for eighth in the league and tied for 21st with his 54 points on the season. He also gives the New York another forward a two-way player who can be utilized in a number of situations.
Horvat, 27, is in the final season of a six-year contract extension that comes with a $5.5 million annual average value. The Canucks retained 25% of his salary in the deal.
Whether or not the Islanders will work out a contract to keep Horvat will remain to be seen as the team has three other players on the roster who will become unrestricted free agents -- defenseman Scott Mayfield, forward Zach Parise and goaltender Semyon Varlamov -- who will be in need of a new deal.
The conditional pick headed to Vancouver is top-12 protected, and it would slide to the 2024 draft if it is unprotected.
Comments