Report: Islanders negotiating long-term deal with Horvat

In case you missed it yesterday, the Vancouver Canucks traded captain Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a 1st round pick.

Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello looks to be sticking his neck out quite a bit with this deal given that the Islanders are currently out of a playoff position and that Horvat remains unsigned beyond this season. In short: Lamoriello paid a steep price for what may end up being a simple rental... a rental that doesn't even suit up for a playoff game. That's dicey...

What may be even dicier though, ironically, is signing Horvat to the big money, long-term deal that he is reportedly seeking. The 27 year old center with 9 seasons of NHL experience is reportedly seeking $8 million or more on a seven year deal according to Canucks insider Irfan Gaffar of The Fourth Period. In fact, Gaffar reportedly earlier this season that the Canucks presented Horvat with a seven year contract with an annual average value just under $7.5 million, which Horvat rejected. Now Gaffar and Fourth Period colleague David Pagnotta are reporting that the Islanders are negotiating a long-term deal with Horvat and his agent Pat Morris.

More from Gaffar and Pagnotta:

The New York Islanders weren’t able to have any discussions with Bo Horvat’s camp before acquiring him Monday from the Vancouver Canucks, but those talks began swiftly after the move was made.

Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello has since reached out to Horvat’s agent Pat Morris to get the ball rolling on an extension.

Horvat is looking for well over $8 million per season on an extension, and there is a belief Lamoriello and the Islanders are aware of the range it would take to get Horvat locked up to a contract extension.

It’s unclear, at this point, how quickly a deal could come about, but negotiations are underway.

- The Fourth Period

Yowza... that's a lot of money for a guy who has suddenly popped off in a contract year. Thoughts, Isles fans?

I love, love, loooove Horvat as a player but there are only a select few players in the NHL that I'd be comfortable negotiating a deal with that ends with the player in their mid-to-late 30s. And as much as I love Horvat, he's not on that very short list. Again, thoughts Isles fans?