Boston Bruins' offer to the Vancouver Canucks for Bo Horvat leaks

PUBLICATION

Aaron Itovitch
January 31, 2023 (7:32 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The hockey community was shocked when the New York Islanders acquired Bo Horvat in exchange for Aatu Raty, a first round pick, and Anthony Beauvillier.

Apart from the obvious, that the New York Islanders aren't even locked into a playoff spot, the return was surprising.

While Canucks GM Patrik Allvin persisted saying the team acquired three first-round picks, it's hard to look at it that way without a grain of salt.

The question persists, could the Canucks have done better? We now know what the equivalent trade would have been from the Boston Bruins, and it is a very desirable package.

One of Jake DeBrusk, Pavel Zacha, or Trent Frederic, plus Fabian Lysell and a 2023 first-rounder would be comparable to Beauvillier, Raty, and a first-rounder. That would have been a very steep price for a B's organization that lacks elite prospects as well as high-end young players at the NHL level.

It can be assumed that DeBrusk came off the table pretty quickly as he is having a career season. Zacha and Frederic have similar value to Beauvillier, so it comes down to the pick and the prospect.

Aatu Raty went 52nd overall in the same draft where Fabian Lysell went 21st. However, Raty, in his D-1 season, was seen as a guaranteed top-3 pick, with a tough LIIGA season making him drop. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Vancouver valued Raty more.

As for the pick, the Bruins are bound to go deep in the playoffs, while the Islanders aren't even a lock to make them. Vancouver definitely made this right choice on this end.

So, while it would have been fun to see Horvat with a �B' crest, it looks like the Canucks took the better offer.

Credit Canucks Daily: The package the Bruins had on the table for Horvat is revealed