Islanders acquire Canucks captain Bo Horvat in trade for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, 2023 draft pick

With 31 goals and 23 assists this season, the 27-year-old centre is having a career season. Bo Horvat, a proven scorer, was acquired on Monday by New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello. The Vancouver Canucks will give up their captain in exchange for forwards Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Räty as well as a protected first-round draught selection in 2023.This season, the 27-year-old centre has already surpassed his previous career best of 31 goals and 23 assists. He played 621 games for Vancouver, scoring 201 goals and dishing out 219 assists for a total of 420 points. Horvat adds 23 Stanley Cup playoff games of experience to New York, where he scored 11 goals and contributed five assists.Although the 2023 NHL trade deadline is not until March 3, it makes sense that they made the transaction now as he will be a much-needed complement to the Islanders' offensive. He was a member of Team Canada's World Championship squad in 2018 together with current Islanders Josh Bailey, Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Ryan Pulock, thus he is already familiar with some of his teammates.Horvat is now in the final year of a six-year deal that he signed as a restricted free agency in 2017 and has an average yearly value of $5.5 million.