January 30, 2023
With the NHL trade deadline rapidly approaching, deals have begun to happen.
The Vancouver Canucks are now without a captain, having traded Bo Horvat today to the New York Islanders. In return, the New York Islanders send Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Raty, plus a top-twelve protected 2023 first-round draft pick to the struggling Canucks.
The annual late season NHL trade deadline has official kicked into an early start this year, as the Vancouver Canucks and New York Islanders have come together to take one of the most rumored names off of the market. Five days ago, the Colorado Avalanche acquire forward Matt Nieto and defenseman Ryan Merkley from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Martin Kraut and defenseman Jacob MacDonald.
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Rumors had been spinning about the Canucks potentially moving Horvat, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, for some time. Vancouver has had a difficult season and are currently sitting in the lower portion of the standings, fourteen points out of a wild card spot for the playoffs. As a result, many believe that the Canucks will be selling assets come trade deadline. While Horvat is now an Islander, other names continue to ne heard about the rumor mill. J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser and Thatcher Demko could all be moved in the next few weeks.
“I’m not going to lie, in the summertime and even at the beginning of the year I honestly thought I was going to be a Canuck and I thought I was going to be a Canuck for life, to be honest with you,” Horvat said on a media call following the trade. “Things just didn’t work out that way.”
Horvat, 27, is having a career year with 31 goals and 54 points through 49 games. Meanwhile, Anthony Beauvillier, 25, has amassed 9 goals and 20 points in 49 games played this season. He was chosen 28th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft and has spent his entire seven-year career with the Islanders. He is in the second year of a three-year, $12.45 million deal.
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Perhaps the key component to this trade, is the acquisition of Aatu Raty, 20, who hasn’t yet broken out at the level he has the potential to reach, having scored just twice this season in 12 NHL games. He also has fifteen points in 27 games in the AHL this season. Raty, from Oulu, Finland, was chosen 52nd overall in the 2021 NHL entry draft and is in the first year of a three year entry level deal.
The NHL trade deadline this year falls on March 3rd, with a lot of names expected to be changing address.
