The Vancouver Canucks are not waiting around for the NHL trade deadline on March 3.
With more than a month left until the deadline, the first domino has fallen in Vancouver with the trade of captain Bo Horvat today.
Horvat is off to the New York Islanders in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a protected 2023 first-round pick.
If the Isles first rounder is outside the top 12 this year, the pick will be transferred to Vancouver, but if it is a top 12 pick then the Canucks will get the Isles first-round pick in 2024.
DETAILS: https://t.co/cbSYwFiEVH pic.twitter.com/kcLTcs7hkA
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 30, 2023
"First of all, we would like to thank Bo Horvat for all that he has done for the Vancouver Canucks during his nine seasons in Vancouver. He has been a great leader and ambassador for our hockey club,” said Canucks GM Patrick Allvin.
“As difficult as it is to trade away our captain, we are excited to add a high-quality 25-year-old winger in Beauvillier, a young centre in Raty and a protected first-round draft pick. These pieces will be a big part of our development and growth moving forward."
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Horvat was the longest-tenured Canuck, as he made his NHL debut for the team in the fall of 2014 after being drafted by the club ninth overall in 2013.
In 621 career games in Vancouver, Horvat scored 201 goals and added 219 assists. He has been the club’s captain since October 2019.
Beauvillier was also a first-round pick, 28th overall in 2015, but despite scoring 21 goals in his second season in the NHL he has yet to establish himself as more than a middle-six winger.
While he could serve as a nice piece for the Canucks, or even a trade chip at the trade deadline, the most exciting parts of this deal for Vancouver are Raty and the first-round pick.
Here's a look at new Canucks prospect Aatu Räty's seven AHL goals this season.
— ππ΅πΏπΆπ Faber π₯π (@ChrisFaber39) January 30, 2023
The kid has a heck of a release and some pretty good wheels.
He has scored two overtime goals this season with the Bridgeport Islanders.#CanucksProspect pic.twitter.com/VsjZvew2jm
Raty was once considered a potential top draft pick in 2021, but slowly fell down the board in the lead up to the draft and ended up being taken 52nd overall by the Islanders.
With his size and world-class shot, the 20-year-old from Finland still has the potential to be a dangerous top-six forward in the NHL.
And the first-round pick will either give the Canucks a selection in the middle to bottom half of a deep 2023 draft, or it will transfer to the 2024 draft as an unprotected pick.
Canucks fans won’t have to wait long to get an extended look at Horvat in an Islanders jersey, as Vancouver will visit New York next week after the NHL All-Star break.
