For the last two months the Vancouver Canucks had been shopping Bo Horvat to other NHL teams but as late as last Tuesday management spoke with his agent about a deal to keep the nine-year veteran.
When those talks didnB次元官网网址檛 produce a deal, and with their playoff hopes all but faded away, the Canucks made the decision Monday to trade their captain and the teamB次元官网网址檚 leading goal scorer to the New York Islanders in exchange for forwards Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Raty, plus a protected 2023 first-round draft pick.
B次元官网网址淔rom our side, we never closed any doors,B次元官网网址 Vancouver general manager Patrik Allvin told a hastily called news conference.
B次元官网网址淚 think the timing was right. We were happy with the return. I think it was a good hockey trade for both teams.B次元官网网址
HorvatB次元官网网址檚 contact situation has been a hot topic in Vancouver. The 27-year-old was earning US$5.5 million in the final year of his current deal. He was enjoying a career-year by leading the Canucks with 31 goals and was second in scoring with 54 points in 49 games.
B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 easy, with everything that went on,B次元官网网址 Horvat told reporters in New York about the pressure he had been feeling. B次元官网网址淭he unknown and my familyB次元官网网址檚 unknown. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be a fresh start.B次元官网网址
The Horvat trade could be the first domino to fall for the struggling Canucks. The deal comes eight days after head coach Bruce Boudreau was fired and replaced with Rick Tocchet.
The Canucks enter the NHL all-star break in sixth place in the Pacific Division with a 20-26-3 record.
With the Canucks in danger of missing the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven years, Allvin indicated more deals are possible before the March 3 trade deadline.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e definitely sitting in the standings in the bottom, so we need to improve our team,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淎s we said when we got here (weB次元官网网址檙e) trying to get younger.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got five weeks to the trading deadline, so I would assume that more calls will come along here.B次元官网网址
Beauvillier, selected by the Islanders in the first round (28th overall) in the 2015 draft, has nine goals and 11 assists in 49 games this season. He has 102 goals and 107 assists in 457 career games.
Raty, picked by New York in the second round (52nd overall) in 2021, has two goals in 12 games with the Islanders. He also has seven goals and eight assists in 27 games with the American Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Bridgeport Islanders.
B次元官网网址淚 think it was important for us to get a first-round pick back,B次元官网网址 said Allvin. B次元官网网址淲e got a young prospect in Aatu Raty, and weB次元官网网址檙e getting a 25-year-old player in Anthony Beauvillier that has been playing pretty consistent for the New York Islanders over the last couple of years.
B次元官网网址淚 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.B次元官网网址
Under the deal, the Canucks are retaining 25 per cent of HorvatB次元官网网址檚 cap hit.
The condition on the draft pick is that if itB次元官网网址檚 a top-12 pick, the Canucks donB次元官网网址檛 get it until 2024.
Allvin was asked if Vancouver received enough for Horvat.
B次元官网网址淚 think the market dictates what the players are worth,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淚n this case weB次元官网网址檙e really excited with what we got back.B次元官网网址
Horvat had been a Canuck since Vancouver selected the London, Ont., native ninth overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft. He was named VancouverB次元官网网址檚 captain in 2019 and was set to represent the Canucks at the upcoming NHL all-star weekend in Sunrise, Fla.
In 621 games he has 201 goals and 219 assists.
HorvatB次元官网网址檚 future in Vancouver looked to be sealed when the Canucks signed 29-year-old J.T. Miller to a seven-year, $US56-million contract in September. It seemed unlikely the Canucks could afford two players earning more than US$7 million a year.
B次元官网网址淲e were definitely hoping that there was a deal to be made with Bo here,B次元官网网址 said Allvin. B次元官网网址淲e certainly wanted to keep him here.
B次元官网网址淏ut when we made our offer and were understanding that might not be the case, my job is to check around the league and talk to teams and see if they have any interest B次元官网网址 and if there is a potential return.B次元官网网址
Horvat will join an Islanders team in the midst of a dogfight for a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders sit fourth in the conferenceB次元官网网址檚 wild-card standings, two points behind second-place Pittsburgh, with a 25-22-5 record.
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said Horvat will make his team better.
B次元官网网址淗e brings a two-way game,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淥ver the past several years (he has been) a 30 to 35 goal scorer. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 going to add a need for us.
B次元官网网址淵ou make this type of transaction because you can improve your team today and tomorrow. In my opinion he makes us a better team and gives us a better opportunity to get where we want to go.B次元官网网址
Allvin said centre Elias Pettersson and defenceman Quinn Hughes could be potential replacements as captain.
The newest Canucks will be made available to reporters on Tuesday morning via a Zoom call.
B次元官网网址擩im Morris, The Canadian Press