Horvat’s deployment in NYI will play a big factor in whether he lives up to this contract. If he can play 1C consistently, and produce ~ PPG, then he’s in line with Roope Hinz, and the contract doesn’t look as bad over the short term (4 yr NTC period).
This is also important context on the Canucks lower offer, which (as long as Petey is here) was for a 2A/2B center, providing an avg. 60 pts before breaking out this year. That’s what his value was to the Canucks, and I’m glad they held the line in negotiations.
His recent offensive production has come playing behind Petey, and also (at times) Miller, in a run and gun system, and is nearly twice his average shooting %. He’ll now be facing opponents’ shutdown D pairs and checking lines, in a more defensive structure. It’s his first opportunity at being the 1C, and I think he’s capable, but he needs to prove it.