IT’S BO TIME!
Your newest Islander Bo Horvat took the ice with the team yesterday for the first time since being traded from the Vancouver Canucks to your Islanders. His first shot in practice was a bar-down snipe on Sorokin.
It was announced soon after team skate that Horvat signed an 8-year, $68 million contract ($8.5M AAV). Many mixed emotions on the contract, many think it's way too much money for Horvat, especially considering he is having a career year. Elliotte Friedman had predicted an 8x8 contract for Horvat and he wasn't that far off. It was also reported that Horvat had turned down a 7-year, 7.5M AAV contract from Vancouver last November. It seems that the Islanders had to match or top that contract.
He was skating with Barzal and Bailey, which is half good. The Islanders lines at practice were as follows:
Bailey-Horvat-Barzal
Lee-Nelson-Palmieri
Parise-Pageau-Holmstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Johnston/Fasching
(Via Stefen Rosner)
I personally would like to see Horvat skating with anybody on his wing besides Josh Bailey, but it's not at all shocking that he’s there. Very typical. On the plus side, it looks like Bo Horvat will make his Islanders debut tonight against the Flyers in Philly.
ROMANOV FACE SHIELD
Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov was wearing a full face shield (not cage) at practice yesterday and it was announced today that he will be wearing it for the next 6 weeks, doctors orders.
Romanov also announced the birth of his daughter, Olivia, on Instagram! Congratulations to the Romanov family.
HOLMSTROM AND BOLDUC BACK UP
Simon Holmstrom and Samuel Bolduc were sent down to Bridgeport for the All-Star break so that they could get some time on the ice during the time off and were called back up yesterday before the Islanders team skated.
Bolduc was supposed to represent the AHL Islanders in the All-Star game yesterday but since he was called back he will miss AHL All-Star weekend leaving Ruslan Iskhakov as the lone Bridgeport representative.
QUOTES
Barzal on the Bo Horvat news: "The core here with Horvy is just going to do wonders. I think we're going to have a great eight years together. We're all excited. This was a big spark for sure."
Mat Barzal: “His game, it seems, just being a bull down low and great hands, good finish...You look at it on paper, you think it works. So hopefully, we can establish that right away.”
Bo Horvat: "To finally fit in and be set up somewhere... that's special to me, especially my family."
Mat Barzal on Anthony Beauvillier: "'I'm always going to be a big fan of his, as a player and as a human. People that know Beau know he's just a special guy. And yeah, one of my favorite teammates of all time."