Lou Lamoriello Strikes in Silence Trading For Bo Horvat

As the New York Islanders hit the break, general manager Lou Lamoriello was feeling the heat. Now Lamoriello is no stranger to feeling the heat. But this was a different kind of heat. The Islanders went back-to-back conference finals losing to Tampa Bay Lightning, but they were on the verge of missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The Islanders were missing something to put them over the edge. That is why Lamoriello struck when nobody was looking as he acquired Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks.

#Isles News: The New York Islanders have acquired Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks, in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a conditional first round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.

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  Jim and Chris are back and are talking about the playoff races in the East […]

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Islanders Trade For Bo Horvat

As part of the trade for Horvat, the Islanders sent Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a top 12 protected 2023 first-round draft pick. If the draft pick falls the Islanders way, then it will be an unprotected first-round pick in 2024. Also, the Canucks will retain 25 percent of Horvat’s contract.

In typical Lamoriello fashion, he strikes in silence. While the Islanders were linked to Horvat, you cannot connect the dots with a Lamoriello-managed team until the deal becomes official. Considering the misses the Islanders had in the offseason to improve their scoring, Lamoriello needed to do something at the deadline. And in typical Lamoriello fashion, he strikes before the deadline.

Bo Horvat is exactly what the Islanders need. Despite, the Islanders winning their final two games before the All-Star break, they relied on their goaltending and not their offence. Offensively, the Islanders needed help if they wanted to get back to the playoffs.

During spurts this season, the offence looked good for the Islanders. But for the most part, the Islanders relied on goaltending and defence. And at times their defence was not the greatest. Losing a player like Jordan Eberle to Seattle in the expansion draft did not help matters. Lamoriello did not replace his goal production in the lineup. Until now.

It is funny how it comes full circle for Lamoriello and Bo Horvat. When he was the general manager of the New Jersey Devils, he traded the ninth overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft for Cory Schneider. That pick turned out to be Horvat. Horvat will immediately make an impact especially playing alongside Mathew Barzal.

This season for the Canucks, the former captain of the Canucks, has 54 points (31 goals and 23 assists) in 49 games. He will immediately give the Islanders the scoring touch they desperately need. Especially on the power play where the Islanders rank 31st. Out of Horvat’s 31 goals, 11 have come on the power play. Not only that he now leads the Islanders in scoring. Brock Nelson and Anders Lee, who each have 19 goals are next behind Horvat for goals.

The problem with the Islanders is that the team is older and was missing that punch to go with Barzal. Lamoriello did not change anything after last year and after their trips to the conference final. He just ran it back as the league was getting younger, and the Islanders were getting older.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been excellent since being acquired a couple of years ago at the deadline. However, Kyle Palmieri is not the player he used to be. As a goal scorer, he is streaky, but he has been injured lately. Oliver Wahlstrom has yet to take the next step in his development as well. So Lamoriello needed to do something to inject life into this offence.

They have it now in Horvat. Yes, they give up one of the “Killers Bs” in Beauvillier, but they gain so much more in Horvat. Not only he can score, but he is a playmaker as well. He knows exactly where every player is on the ice.

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What’s Next

The next step will be for Lamoriello to sign Horvat to an extension as he is an unrestricted free agent. He was able to do that was Pageau when he was acquired. Do not put it past him from doing the same thing with Horvat now that he’s acquired.

Contract talks have yet to begin between Horvat and Lamoriello. Lamoriello told the media in his press conference he will do everything to get it done. Horvat told the media he will leave that up to his agent and the team to get a deal done.

Don’t think Lamoriello is done either. Bo Horvat was just the first. Lamoriello still has work to do to keep the Islanders competitive for this season and for seasons to come. But this was a good start.