We all knew this day would come. We just didn’t know when. Bo Horvat’s time as the captain of the Vancouver Canucks has finally come to an end.
The forward was just traded to the New York Islanders, finally ending the where-will-Horvat-go game? questions that have circled in Vancouver since the Canucks re-signed J.T. Miller.
The club announced the blockbuster trade via Twitter, noting that the return for the trade included forward Anthony Beauvillier, prospect Aatu Raty (who cracked the Isles lineup for a few games this season, filling in for injuries) and a protected 2023 first-round pick.
The Islanders are certainly in need of a jolt, and may have just found it in the form of 27-year old Bo Horvat, who is playing the best hockey of his career this season.
The forward has 31 goals and and 54 points in 49 contests this season with the disaster-ridden Vancouver Canucks, who recently inked Andrei Kuzmenko to an extension. That all but sealed Bo Horvat’s fate. Until now, he played his entire career with the Vancouver Canucks
Anthony Beauvillier struggled this season, collecting just 20 points in 49 games. The Islanders draft pick (28th overall in 2015) couldn’t find his spot in the lineup, and bounced from the first to the fourth line before the trade.
Aatu Raty was a 2021 second-round pick for the Isles, drafted 52nd overall. He appeared in 12 contests this season, amassing two points.
Horvat is a natural center, but could play on the first line with forward Mathew Barzal, with one of the two playing wing.