Bo Horvat thought he would be a Vancouver Canuck for life. But on Monday afternoon, that changed when the Canucks dealt him with to the New York Islanders with over a month remaining until the March 3rd trade deadline, acquiring Aatu Raty, Anthony Beauvillier, and a 2023 first round pick in return.

Horvat wasn’t sure if he’d be dealt before this weekend’s All-Star Game — which he was supposed to attend alongside Canucks teammate Elias Pettersson — but didn’t count out the possibility of it, given how things have gone this season in Vancouver.

And on Monday, after nine years with the club, Bo Horvat was officially no longer a member of the Vancouver Canucks. Just hours after news of the trade broke, Horvat, along with Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello, spoke with the media.

Horvat expressed his excitement to be joining the Islanders organization, and shared on all the players he already knows on the team thanks to his time with Team Canada at the World Championships. However, it didn’t take long for Horvat to get emotional when talking about his time in Vancouver coming to an end.

“I don’t think it’s really fully sunk in yet,” said Horvat. “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 and happened. Again, it hasn’t sunk in yet, but 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 the shoulders… Obviously, it’s disappointing. Like I said, I thought I was going to be a Canuck for life. And it just didn’t play out that way.

“I can’t say enough about the fans and the province of BC and all of the unbelievable people that I’ve met over my time in Vancouver. I’m getting a little emotional here… It’s a tough goodbye, and it doesn’t go unnoticed what everybody’s done for me in the Canucks organization and all the amazing people that have helped me through my career and jumpstart my career there in Vancouver. I’m gonna miss a lot of people and a lot to do with the Canucks. But you know, it’s going to be a fresh start for me and the family and we can’t be more excited to be part of the New York Islanders organization. We’re really excited and can’t wait to get things going.”

Horvat said he thought he was going to be a Canuck for life a total of three times during the roughly 20-minute-long media availability.

“I thought I was going to be a Canuck for life. That was kind of my mindset at the beginning of the summer and a little bit in the first part of the season,” said Horvat. “I guess it just again — it’s just a business and that’s the way things worked out. But again, it led me to this opportunity right here and I can’t be more grateful for it. I just really can’t wait to help the New York Islanders hopefully make the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup one day.”

Horvat departs Vancouver after nine years with the Canucks, 201 goals scored while wearing a Canuck uniform — 62 of which have come over the past two seasons — and as someone truly loved by many in the fanbase and in the community.

Now, he and his family — who are with him at Disneyworld right now — get set to turn the page and talk extension with the Islanders. Those discussions haven’t begun yet, but both parties expressed interest in getting a deal done. In the meantime, Horvat’s understanding is that he’ll still be attending the All-Star game, and that his parents, in-laws, and kids would be in attendance for the weekend’s festivities in Florida.