Lou Lamoriello has done the Maple Leafs a huge favour
In what is being seen around the league as a lose-lose deal, Lou Lamoriello's New York Islanders acquired Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks for a top 12 protected 1st round pick, Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Räty. Horvat is having a career year, one that he is not likely to be able to replicate, and the Islanders are currently sitting outside of a playoff spot. Canucks GM Jim Rutherford claims to see the deal as Horvat for three firsts, but neither Räty or Beauvillier have lived up to their potential yet. In a way, the Canucks didn't get enough for Horvat, and the Islanders, in their current situation, paid too much for a rental. Both things can be true and in this case, they are.
Of course, any time anything happens in the NHL, the first and most important question is: How does this affect the Leafs? In this case, Dubas and company must be over the moon seeing this deal happen. One of the top available rental players just got traded somewhere other than Tampa or Boston, both of whom are rumoured to have inquired about him. The Bruins last two deadlines have seen the acquisition and extensions of Taylor Hall and Hampus Lindholm. The Lightning have gone all in on Blake Coleman, Barclay Goodrow, Nick Paul and Brandon Hagel in previous years. Both teams have clearly been willing to make big moves in the past, the Horvat trade takes one massive piece off the table for them.
With just over a month before the trade deadline, it's entirely possible that if the Islanders can't climb into playoff contention, Horvat will once again become trade bait. For the time being, however, he has been snatched away from the Leafs' rivals. The Leafs have managed to win a trade they weren't even involved in! So from all of us here in Leafs Nation, thanks Lou!
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 31 | 419 ANSWERS Lou Lamoriello has done the Maple Leafs a huge favour Will the Islanders make the playoffs? | ||
| No, and they'll lose Horvat as a UFA | 196 | 46.8 % |
| No, Horvat will be flipped at the deadline | 123 | 29.4 % |
| Yes, but they'll be out in the first round | 65 | 15.5 % |
| They're going on a run with Horvat | 35 | 8.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
