NHL Rumors: Canucks Have Interest In Top Islanders Prospect

There is talk that the New York Islanders are in on one of the big players who will be available at the trade deadline, Bo Horvat in particular. But Horvat isn't going to come cheap to any team acquiring him and the Vancouver Canucks surely have prospects and young players on their radar from every potential team with interest.

In regards to the Islanders, Aatu Raty is that player of interest for the Canucks according to Stefen Rosner. But would the Islanders be willing to part with their top prospect for a rental? Would acquiring Horvat turn into an extension? If so, Raty is worth it since the window is open right now for the Islanders to win.

The Islanders have a full forward group and three centres already so it is interesting that they may be in on Horvat. But I would assume someone like J.G. Pageau would be heading back to clear a roster spot and cap space. Horvat would add the scoring that the team would love to have as only one forward has more than 10 goals this season.

Raty would be tough to part with since the Islanders really don't have a whole lot of good forward prospects left after Simon Holmstrom made the jump to the NHL. The 20-year-old Raty dropped in the 2021 draft to the Islanders in the second half of the second round. He is mature for his age and played in SM-liiga for three seasons before coming to the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders. He isn't off to an amazing start, but he is adjusting just 22 games into his first season in North America.

If the Islanders are getting a centre in Horvat from the Canucks and possibly keeping him around, it makes sense to part with Raty and for the Canucks to have interest in the underrated prospect.