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NHL trades have not exactly been brisk this season, with 13 deals being made since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign, but with five weeks left to go before the March 3rd deadline, the first big domino has fallen, as the NY Islanders acquired center Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks for forwards Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, and a conditional 2023 first round pick.
The 27-year-old Horvat was arguably the most sought-after forward on the market and the Islanders paid a hefty price, including a top-12 protected first in a very strong draft this June, and Raty (a 20-year-old center who had 15 points with AHL Bridgeport), and a 25-year-old winger in Beauvillier who has scored in double figures five times.
How this effects the Toronto Maple Leafs depends on who they are targeting in the next five weeks. GM Kyle Dubas appears to be in the market for a top-six winger, such as Timo Meier of the San Jose Sharks or Tyler Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings.
The Leafs GM’s recent trip to Vancouver could have involved interest in Horvat, but may have more to do with former Toronto first rounder Luke Schenn, who had seven hits in just under 20 minutes against Columbus. The need for physicality (especially in the absence of Jake Muzzin) has been more apparent as clubs begin to play more playoff-style hockey in the second half, and Schenn’s $850,000 salary would be easy to fit under the cap.