Rosner Wrap: Horvat ‘Anxious’ to Get Going With Islanders, All-Star Skills

Good morning and happy Friday. What a week it has been. From the Bo Horvat trade to now the NHL All-Star festivities, as you can watch the NHL Skills Competition tonight at 7 PM on ESPN.

Brock Nelson will be competing in the Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting, while Ilya Sorokin will be taking part in the Discover Tendy Tandem. Newcomer Bo Horvat will not be participating on Friday, but will play in the All-Star Game on Saturday.

Here are your New York Islanders and NHL stories to know for today:

NYI HOCKEY NOW

On Thursday evening, Bo Horvat spoke with reporters about being traded to the New York Islanders and where his mindset is at.

With the acquisition of Bo Horvat last Monday, the play of Noah Dobson becomes even more critical than it was before, and here’s why.

The New York Islanders have a new weapon, and his name is Bo Horvat. On the surface, he is a player lighting up the NHL this season, ranking eighth with 31 goals along with 23 assists. But Horvat is more than just a goal scorer.

There had been no news from the NHL on what the plan was regarding Bo Horvat at the All-Star festivities, but on Wednesday night, we got our answer.

NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW

Washington Hockey Now: Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin won’t make any promises and even admitted that he still doesn’t completely believe that he’ll catch “The Great One.

Boston Hockey Now: In his latest 32 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Boston Bruins have at least looked into acquiring Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun on the NHL trade market.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: For the second consecutive season, national NHL TV ratings are down. This wasn’t supposed to happen after the NHL ditched little ol’ NBC and NBCsports for the worldwide leader in sports, ESPN, and TNT. Here’s some quick fixes. Pittsburgh Penguins.

Philly Hockey Now: Philadelphia Flyers left winger Kevin Hayes has a chance to outshine the great Connor McDavid — and many other marquee players — when the All-Star accuracy-shooting contest is held Friday night at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

Florida Hockey Now: Florida Panthers captain Sasha Barkov said he hoped he would not be selected to compete in the ‘Fastest Skater’ at the NHL All-Star competition Friday night at FLA Live Arena.

San Jose Hockey Now: On the same day that Brad Marchand took to Twitter to chirp a couple media members, Todd Marchant — now San Jose Sharks director of player development — took aim at Sportsnet reporter Mark Spector.