JUST IN: Head Coach Adam Foote Descusses Potential Return of Former Canucks Captain’s Possible Return to Vancouver…
After being traded to the New York Islanders in 2023, former Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat could be on the radar for a return to his former team.
The Canucks are currently facing a serious issue at center. Over the past two seasons, they’ve traded away J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat, leaving them thin at a key position. The remaining options, Elias Pettersson—who has been struggling with injuries—and Filip Chytil—who has talent but faces an uncertain future due to concussions—offer little stability.
Luckily for Vancouver, the Islanders seem headed for a major rebuild rather than a Stanley Cup run. New general manager Mathieu Darche might be forced to initiate significant roster changes during the upcoming offseason. Several key players are due to hit free agency, including Maxim Tsyplakov, Simon Holmstrom, Kyle Palmieri, Marc Gatcomb, Alex Romanov, Adam Boqvist, and Noah Dobson.
The Islanders have only four defensemen under contract for the 2025–26 season, and three are aged 30 or older. Although they hold the top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the chosen prospect likely won’t be NHL-ready until at least 2026.
Horvat, now 30 years old, is under contract through 2031 with a hefty $8.5 million annual cap hit. Despite the long-term commitment, he remains a valuable asset. In fact, his 61 goals and 125 points over the past two seasons mark some of the most productive years of his career.
Any return to Vancouver would need Horvat’s approval due to his full no-trade clause, which runs through the 2027 offseason. Still, given New York’s uncertain future, Horvat might be open to returning to a more competitive environment—if he’s thinking ahead.
Darche, who has no loyalty to the current roster, may look to trade aging veterans like Horvat to maximize value before their performance declines. Meanwhile, the Canucks are eager to remain in playoff contention, and bringing Horvat back would ease the load on players like Pettersson, Chytil, and Quinn Hughes.
Vancouver holds first-round picks for the next three years and second-round picks for the next two—assets that could form the basis of a trade. Ironically, the Islanders might be interested in reacquiring prospect Aatu Raty, though such a deal seems unlikely.
With $14.156 million in cap space, Vancouver could absorb Horvat’s contract while still having room to re-sign someone like Pius Suter. However, doing so might mean saying goodbye to Brock Boeser in free agency.
Although the idea of reacquiring Horvat may seem improbable at first glance, the move could benefit both franchises. The Canucks would address a pressing need, while the Islanders could accelerate a rebuild. Still, even with Horvat back in the mix, the Canucks would need to make several other adjustments to become true contenders.
