Canucks Trade Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders

Jim Parsons January 30, 2023 in NHL, Trade News Tagged Bo Horvat, Top Story - 2 Minutes

As per both teams’ official Twitter accounts, the Vancouver Canucks and New York Islanders have completed a huge trade ahead of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. Bo Horvat has been traded to the Islanders for F Anthony Beauvillier, C Aatu Raty, and a protected 2023 1st-round draft pick. Elliotte Friedman reports the first-rounder from the Islanders to the Canucks is top-12 protected this year. Pierre LeBrun notes that if the pick slides to 2024, it is unprotected.

BO TO THE ISLAND! 🔵🟠

The @NYIslanders have acquired #NHLAllStar @BoHorvat from the @Canucks in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a conditional 2023 first-round pick! pic.twitter.com/l0z5n5RRvu
— NHL (@NHL) January 30, 2023

Horvat was one of the top names available heading into this season’s NHL Trade Deadline and was having an incredible season with 31 goals and 54 points in 49 games for the Canucks. Some wonder if his production will regress on an Islanders team that has trouble scoring goals, but there’s also potential for strong chemistry with Matthew Barzal. If Horvat can keep his production high, he only increases his value around the NHL as a pending UFA.

The Islanders currently sit two points out of a Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference and this deal will give the team a chance to up their offense and move into a playoff position. Horvat immediately becomes the team’s leading goal scorer, ahead of Brock Nelson and Anders Lee who both have 19 goals each.

As for what the Canucks are getting, the first-round pick was a must. Beyond that, Beauvillier has nine goals and 20 points in 49 games for the Islanders this season. He can play center or wing and is a speedy forward and a talented puck-handler with good hands. After a few seasons he’s not broken out in the NHL yet, but the Canucks must be hoping he does in Vancouver.

Aatu Raty only has 12 games on his NHL resume and is currently playing for the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL where he has 15 points in 27 games.

Horvat was deemed trade bait the moment the Canucks signed J.T. Miller and Andrei Kuzmenko. The league knew he was going to be moved but the Canucks did pretty well here. It will be intriguing to see what the Islanders try to do. Will the immediately look to sign Horvat to an extension? Or, will they wait and see if the team is going to make the playoffs. If not, there’s always the chance the Islanders might flip Horvat again before the March 3rd deadline.