Former Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat may be on the radar for a potential return to the team, as General Manager Patrik Allvin looks to strengthen the roster during a crucial offseason. With the search underway for a capable second-line center, Horvat’s name has surfaced as a possible solution.
Following a disappointing 2024–25 campaign that ended without a playoff appearance, Allvin faces significant pressure to retool the lineup ahead of the 2025–26 season. One of the most pressing needs is to fill the gap left by J.T. Miller, who vacated the second-line center role, temporarily filled by Filip Chytil after a late-season trade.
In a recent piece for Canucks Army, writer Stephan Roget explored the idea of Horvat returning to Vancouver. As someone who spent nearly a decade with the Canucks and once wore the captain’s “C,” Horvat would bring familiarity and leadership back to a team in need of both.
Meanwhile, Horvat’s current team, the New York Islanders, finds itself in a transitional period. The club recently parted ways with longtime GM Lou Lamoriello after another disappointing season. Over the past four years, the Islanders have failed to make a deep playoff run, only managing two early exits and two missed postseasons.
With the Islanders holding the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and a promising group of young players including Cole Eiserman, the franchise appears poised to rebuild. That shift in direction could make veterans like Horvat available in trade talks.
Should the Canucks explore acquiring Horvat, Roget suggests the Islanders would likely demand a package centered on draft picks and top prospects to support their youth movement. This would be a steep price for Vancouver, but potentially worth it to bring in a proven top-six center.
Horvat, now 30 years old, was originally drafted ninth overall by Vancouver in 2013. After nine productive seasons with the team, he was traded to the Islanders in January 2023. This past season, he posted 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 81 games. However, his $8.5 million cap hit through 2030 could complicate any potential return.