The New York Islanders have agreed to an eight-year contract extension with forward Bo Horvat.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the deal carries an $8.5 million cap hit.
The Islanders acquired Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Anthony Beauvillier, prospect Aatu Raty, and a conditional first-round pick in 2023.
Horvat was a pending free agent in the middle of a career-best season, with 31 goals and 24 assists through 49 games. The 27-year-old was expected to get a significant pay raise from his current $5.5 million cap hit, which led to him being traded by Vancouver who chose to prioritize an extension with J.T. Miller in the off-season instead of signing their captain.
“In the summertime and even at the beginning of the year, honestly, I thought I was going to be a Canuck,” Horvat said in a Zoom call with reporters after the trade was made. “And I thought I was going to be a Canuck for life, to be honest with you. Just things didn’t work out that way and, you know, it led me to this. So, I’m grateful for that and I’m grateful that the New York Islanders really believe in me and I’m proud to be in New York Islander now.
“There was a lot going on this year, to say the least, and it hasn’t been an easy year dealing with just everything that’s gone on. I’m sure when this is all over and it starts to sink in, I’m definitely going to have a little bit of weight off my shoulders.”
The former Canucks captain was brought in by the Islanders to add some much-needed scoring punch and star power. The club had struck out on attracting a number stars recently, including Johnny Gaudreau last off-season.
Horvat was selected ninth overall by the Canucks in the 2013 NHL Draft, a pick Vancouver acquired from then-Devils GM Lou Lamoriello in exchange for Corey Schneider.
February 5, 2023
New York Islanders
