Jan. 30 is the anniversary of the Vancouver Canucks sending Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, and a protected 2023 first-round draft pick. The Islanders extended Horvat to an eight-year contract in the days that followed, and the first-round selection was flipped a month later to the Detroit Red Wings in a package deal for defenseman Filip Hronek. Opinions were mixed at the time, so over one year later, who won the trade?
New York Islanders, A
The trade made sense for the Islanders; their star forward Mat Barzal needed a linemate who could put the puck in the net, and what better option than All-Star Bo Horvat? Before the trade, Horvat had recently cracked 30 goals for just the second time in his career, and with 31 goals in 49 games, he was well on his way to destroying his career highs in goals and points.
However, when Horvat arrived on Long Island, he slowed down, finding the net just seven times in 30 games. Additionally, Barzal got hurt just a few weeks after the trade, leading Horvat to bounce around throughout the lineup.
The Islanders had their fair share of struggles last season, but the top line of Anders Lee, Horvat, and Barzal was definitely not one of them. The line sat fifth in the league (min. 450 minutes) in expected goals share (xG%) with 57.7 percent, according to Money Puck. Horvat, who had 33 goals and 68 points in 81 games last season, helped alleviate some of Barzal’s responsibilities on the team’s first line, and both benefitted.
Related: New York Islanders First Half Report Cards
The two look like they’ve been playing together for years, and create no shortage of opportunities each game. After years of complaints from the fanbase for having a lack of talent to support Barzal, general manager Lou Lamoriello has found someone who has fit in seamlessly. Whether additional moves are necessary to get this team over the hump is debatable, but Horvat has undoubtedly made a massive impact.
Vancouver Canucks, A
The 2022-23 season for the Canucks was one to forget. The team’s 83 points were good for sixth in the Pacific Division, which raised many question marks entering the offseason. However, last season was a full turnaround. The team finished first in the Pacific Division with 109 points, and many of the struggles from 2022-23 went away. Their success can be attributed to one key part of the trade: how they utilized that first-round pick.
The first-round pick helped the Canucks land Hronek a month after the Horvat deal. Last season, Hronek was the hero on defense. Playing alongside Norris Trophy favorite Quinn Hughes, Hronek played a key role in the pairing’s success. The two played nearly 1,200 minutes together with a 53.3 xG%. Additionally, Hronek alleviated the stress on the rest of the defense, averaging over 23 minutes a night, playing on both the power play and penalty kill. While the acquisition alone does not account for all of the team’s success, the acquisition has paid dividends. Hronek later extended in Vancouver on an eight-year, $58 million deal and will continue to be a key member of the defense for the long-term future.
Beauvillier and Raty have not had a similar impact. With nine goals and 20 points in 31 games with Vancouver in 2022-23, Beauvillier had just two goals and eight points in 22 games last season before he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2024. Raty struggled at first, playing fourth-line minutes for Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, Abbotsford Canucks, at times, but he returned to form and is now fighting to become a full-time NHL player.
Revisiting the trade a year later, it appears both teams got what they wanted, making it a win-win, with matching A-level grades. Today, teams can use the Horvat trade as a blueprint for value among this year’s top players on the market.
