The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline was one of the busiest in recent memory. A lot of contending teams made splash additions and All-Star-level players were moved throughout the week of the deadline. The trade that started things happened during the All-Star Break when the New York Islanders acquired Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks.
Related: Horvat Has Made Immediate Impact for Islanders
The trade was a shock at the time and had massive implications for both the Canucks and the Islanders. Both teams were heading in opposite directions but the move has set them both up for success both this season and for the foreseeable future. Rarely does a trade appear like a win-win deal but after two months, the Canucks and Islanders look like they have both benefited immensely from the Horvat trade.
Horvat Turns Islanders’ Season Around
The Islanders were in a downward spiral and were watching their playoff hopes slip away when they acquired Horvat. They concluded January with a 4-8-3 record and their offense was one of the worst in the league, scoring only 1.93 goals per game in the month. Horvat added a much-needed spark to the roster and catapulted the team back into playoff contention. Since the All-Star Break, the Islanders have gone 12-5-3 and have leaped from sixth place in the Metropolitan Division to fourth and in control of the top wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Horvat is known as a goal scorer, with only five goals since being traded but 36 on the season, yet he has been more than just that for the Islanders. He leads the top line and helps create scoring chances for the rest of the skaters on the ice. Before Mathew Barzal was placed on injured reserve, his skillset was unlocked as he had a star player centering his line. Likewise, the Horvat-led line has often been the one creating scoring chances as he draws skaters in, allowing his linemates to find open ice in the offensive zone.
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Along with his offense, Horvat has been one of the most impactful players in all three zones. He has won 58.1 percent of his faceoffs, the most among centers on the team, and is one of the best puck-handling forwards as well, allowing the Islanders to control the pace of play when he is on the ice. Moreover, Horvat has been one of the best defensive forwards on the team with 0.5 defensive point shares, 22 blocked shots, and a strong forecheck in the offensive zone.
Horvat has not only…
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