New York Islanders sign ex-Canuck Bo Horvat to eight year contract

The New York Islanders have signed former Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat to an eight-year contract with an annual average value of $8.5 million, the Islanders announced late Sunday morning.

The Islanders acquired Horvat from the Canucks on Monday, January 30th in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raaty, and a 2023 protected first round pick. Immediately after the acquisition, Isles general manager Lou Lamoriello indicated that his goal was to get Horvat locked up on a long-term extension. Horvat expressed similar interest and said he was extremely excited to be an Islander. Horvat’s total contract value is $68 million. For context, the Canucks dished out $56 million in total money to JT Miller this past offseason.

Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello was very candid in his evaluation of the new contract:

Dating back to the second half of last season, Horvat has established himself as one of the game’s most lethal scorers, and through 49 games this season, has already matched his previous career season-high in goals of 31, which he set last season. The Canucks drafted Horvat with the ninth overall pick of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft using the pick that they acquired from the Lou Lamoriello-led New Jersey Devils in exchange for goaltender Cory Schneider.

Through 621 career games with the Canucks, Horvat has tallied 201 goals and 219 assists. Through 23 playoff appearances, Horvat has amassed 11 goals and five assists. Horvat joins an Islanders club that is knocking on the door of a playoff spot, and will look to give them a boost on the power play, where the team has struggled most this season.

Horvat made a name for himself in the bumper spot on the Canucks’ first power play unit, where he established himself as a lethal finisher.

The Vancouver Canucks will to visit Horvat and the Islanders this Thursday, February 9th, as the captain gets set to face off against his former team.