Horvat traded to Islanders by Canucks

Bo Horvat was traded to the New York Islanders by the Vancouver Canucks on Monday for forwards Anthony Beauvillier and
Aatu Raty
, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

"Obviously, a little bit in shock and it's kind of a been a big whirlwind for me right now and my family," Horvat said. "I've heard lots of unbelievable things about the organization, the city and the all the players on it and nothing but respect for this organization. So, really, really looking forward to it, the family is looking forward to it and I want to help this team out as best as possible any way I can."
The Islanders, who got an early jump on the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline on March 3, are hoping that the center will help them qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. New York (25-22-6) is sixth in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"In my opinion, he makes us a better team and gives us a better opportunity to get what we want to do," Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "I've always believed that during a year you find out whether you have a chance to get in the playoffs, that's your first goal, and then once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen. We've seen that year in and year out. I believe he improves us to give us that opportunity to get in the playoffs and then we'll go one step at a time."
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Horvat, who is in the final season of a six-year, $33 million contract ($5.5 million average annual value) he signed with the Canucks on Sept. 8, 2017, can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Vancouver will retain 25 percent of his salary.
Though there have been no talks, Lamoriello said the trade was made with the hope of signing Horvat to a new contract.
"I think it's important to do it as soon as possible and we'll work at it and do the best we can," Lamoriello said. "… We'll do everything we can to get it done."
Horvat is on vacation with his family at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, so the timing of the trade took him by surprise a little, but he sounded willing to consider re-signing with New York.
"This kind of all happened so fast, so no talk on that, yet," Horvat said. "We'll see if we can get something done, but I'll leave that to (agent) Pat [Morris] and everybody to handle that."

Horvat has 54 points, including tying his NHL career high with 31 goals, in 49 games this season. Selected by Vancouver in the first round (No. 9) of the 2013 NHL Draft, the 27-year-old has 420 points (201 goals, 219 assists) in 621 regular-season games, and 16 points (11 goals, five assists) in 23 playoff games.
Horvat's 11 power-play goals this season were particularly appealing to the Islanders because they are 31st in the NHL on the man-advantage at 15.5 percent.
"The way our power play has been right now, there's no question in my mind that he should help our power play and certainly that's been our thought process," Lamoriello said. "That's what we like the most about Bo's game is that his power-play success, how he knows where to go and where to be at the right time and for the linemates to get the puck in the right areas. And the flip side of that too is he kills penalties and can take some pressure off our penalty kill."
Horvat, who was named Canucks captain before the 2019-20 season, had hoped to re-sign with them but realized he would likely be traded when no progress was made in negotiations and the team struggled. Vancouver (20-26-3) is sixth in the Pacific Division, 14 points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card from the Western Conference.
"In the summertime and even the beginning of the year, honestly, I thought I was going to be a Canuck and I thought I was going to be a Canuck for life," he said. "It was just things didn't work out that way and it led to me to this. So, I'm grateful for that and I'm grateful that the New York Islanders really believe in me and I'm proud to be a New York Islander now. I can't wait."
When it was clear the Canucks wouldn't be able to re-sign Horvat, they decided to trade him for pieces that can help them now and in the future.
"We were definitely hoping that there was a deal to be made with Bo here since the end of last year and we certainly wanted to keep him here," Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin said. "… I think the market dictates what the players are worth, and in this case we're really excited [about] what we got back."

Beauvillier, 25, has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 49 games this season. Selected by New York in the first round (No. 28) of the 2015 NHL Draft, he has 209 points (102 goals, 107 assists) in 457 regular-season games, and 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 49 playoff games.
"Definitely some mixed emotions here," Beauvillier said Tuesday. "It's tough to leave the Islanders but at the same time very, very excited to join this Canucks team. I feel like I've had some good years to start and kind of slowed it down the last two seasons, but I feel like my numbers don't really speak for the way I've been playing this year. I've had a lot of opportunities and just couldn't find the back of the net I would say but very excited to find my game again in Vancouver."
Raty has two goals in 12 games as a rookie this season and 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 27 games with Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old was a second-round pick (No. 52) in the 2021 NHL Draft.
"I'm really excited right now to join a new team, obviously," Raty said. "Tough leaving New York, that's the team that drafted me and then kind of gave me my first opportunity but I guess that's how the business goes. A lot happening this year, playing for Bridgeport first and then New York and then having the World Juniors (played for Finland) at the start of the year but just really excited to join the Canucks."
If the conditional first-round pick ends up in the top 12, the Canucks will get the Islanders' 2024 first-round pick instead.
"You can look at it that we got three first-rounders back here," Allvin said. "I think it was important for us to get a first-round pick back, we got a young prospect in Aatu Raty, and we're getting a 25-year-old young player in Anthony Beauvillier back here that has been playing pretty consistent for the New York Islanders over the last couple of years. I've seen him a lot in my previous organization (Penguins) in the playoffs. I like the details he plays with, his tenacity, his puck hunting. I think he will fit in well here in our top-six group on the left side."
Allvin praised Beauvillier's ability on the power play and penalty kill, and called Raty a key piece in the deal, with the Canucks putting a priority on receiving a center or defenseman in return. Raty will be assigned to Abbotsford of the AHL.
As for trading Horvat now rather than waiting for a potentially better offer closer to the deadline, Allvin said, "I think the timing was right here. We were happy with the return. I think it was a good hockey trade for both teams."
Lamoriello said the Islanders have room under the NHL salary cap to make another trade before the deadline if there is an opportunity to upgrade their roster.
"I believe if something presents itself we will do the best we can," Lamoriello said. "Part of this trade was the retention by Vancouver of 25 percent of Bo's cap hit, so that it was really a swap with the same cap hit that Beauvillier had. So, really there was no cap room that came out with this transaction."
Horvat was selected to represent the Pacific in the 2023 NHL Honda All-Star Game at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS) via the All-Star Fan Vote. Horvat will represent the Islanders but will play for the Pacific.
"The whole family is going, mom and dad and in-laws too and my kids," Horvat said. "So, we'll have a fun weekend."
Seven NHL teams are
without a captain
: the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets and Canucks.
NHL.com independent correspondent Kevin Woodley contributed to this report