From NYI? Dobson. Or walk. This wasn't a last minute deadline deal to unload a UFA asset.
Maybe it was the best offer on the table. Maybe PA actually targetted a smaller middle six winger he already had better versions of, and a prospect whose stock had fallen even before he was drafted. He does seem to like reclaimation projects. See Bear, Studnicka, Kravtsov, etc.
Virtually nobody liked the return from this trade when it occured, including some who have spoken up for it in this thread. Hindsight, and the subsequent Hronek aquisition, lend a different view. Beauvillier might be a solid player for us, Raty will likely become a useful player in the future. The 1st round pick is usually the prized asset coming back in these deals, and that 1st helped bring in Hronek. His future play and potential signing will determine the true value of the entire package from both trades.
For whatever reason people here want to downplay Horvat's value. Four straight 20+ goal seasons, 19 in the shortened season, 31 following that. On pace for 50+ at the time of the trade. Excellent on the dot, good on the powerplay, reasonable two way play. But he didn't punch people in the face and he had a loser mentality. It's all nonsense.
Player, prospect, and pick. Bottom line, Beauvillier is redundant, Raty is a low value prospect (almost?) every team passed on at the draft, and the 1st was needed (with the extra 2nd) to bring back the value Horvat was worth in the first place.
If that, and a long list of AHL and bottom of the roster signings, is impressive work for a newish GM, then I guess I'll be impressed.
Kuzmenko was a great piece of work, let's ask Mikheyev to be GM.
I'm not anti PA, or pro Benning, or any of that bs. I just find some of the reactions to PA's workings rather curious. Are we Canuck fans that used to disappointment?
@RWJC I don't know about EA NHL 23, but that trade didn't work in 22. Horvat didn't have the value...