The New York Islanders acquired center Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night in exchange for forwards Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Raty and a conditional first-round draft pick in 2023.
Horvat spent his first 8 1/2 NHL seasons with the Canucks and has served as their captain since 2019.
The 27-year-old led Vancouver with 31 goals and was second on the team with 54 points. In 621 career games, Horvat tallied 420 points (201 goals, 219 points).
But the Canucks are a longshot to factor into the Western Conference playoff race and recently fired coach Bruce Boudreau, signaling a willingness to be sellers ahead of the trade deadline.
The Islanders are in the middle of a tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference. At 55 points, they are just three and two points out of the two wild-card spots occupied by the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Beauvillier, 25, had spent his first 6 1/2 NHL seasons with New York and recorded 209 points (102 goals, 107 assists) in 457 appearances. He had 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 49 games this season.
The Islanders drafted Raty in the second round of the 2021 draft after he had been considered one of the top prospects available that year. He scored a goal in his NHL debut on Dec. 23 and played in 12 total games for the Isles, who recently returned him to their AHL affiliate.
The first-round pick in the deal is top-12 protected in 2023, multiple reports said. If the Islanders end up with a top-12 selection this summer, Vancouver will receive their 2024 first-rounder instead.
The NHL trade deadline is March 3.
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