Canucks trade Bo Horvat to Islanders in blockbuster deal
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The New York Islanders didn’t top many rumored trade destinations for Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat, but every now and then, GM Lou Lamoriello surprises the hockey world with a splashy move. He did exactly that on Monday, as the Islanders acquired Horvat in exchange for forwards Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Räty, plus a protected 2023 first-round draft pick.
The timing of this move is especially interesting since the 2023 NHL trade deadline won’t strike until March 3, but this is an interesting mix of a pick and prospects for the Canucks.
Reviewing the Canucks’ side of the Bo Horvat trade
Beyond the first-rounder, many will judge the Canucks’ takeaway from the Horvat trade by how forwards Beauvillier and Räty pan out.
During a press conference rife with mixed messages, Canucks executive Jim Rutherford noted that a “retool” may focus as much on players in the 24- or 25-year-old range as picks and prospects. Beauvillier falls under that 25-year-old category as he’ll turn 26 on June 8.
The 28th pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, Beauvillier has carved out a solid NHL career, scoring 209 points in 457 games. So far in 2022-23, he has scored nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 49 games. He’ll carry a $4.15 million cap hit through 2023-24.
Räty, 20, is an interesting investment in his own right. Several prospect experts wondered if the Islanders got a steal when they selected him in the second round (52nd overall) in 2021, but it’s been an up-and-down development path for the forward. There’s still some interest there, though, as The Athletic’s Corey Pronman ranked Räty the 96th-best player under 23 years old in a recent article.
Is this mix of a protected first-rounder, Beauvillier, and Räty truly the best deal the Canucks could get in a Horvat trade? Maybe, maybe not. You certainly can’t claim that Vancouver waited until the last second to auction him off, though.
It remains to be seen if this trade works out for the Canucks, Islanders, or…
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