It's been two and a half years since the Vancouver Canucks traded their then-captain, Bo Horvat, to the New York Islanders in a blockbuster ahead of the deadline.
The move has worked out relatively well for both sides, as the Canucks used the first-round pick they acquired to get Filip Hronek, while Horvat has been his usual steady self on Long Island.
That being said, neither team has really seen their status in terms of contending change as a result of the trade, and now in 2025, Vancouver's biggest need is a second-line center, which used to be a major strength.
While the Canucks continue their search for an upgrade down the middle of the ice, Dave Benson of Heavy Sports has proposed that they go all-in to bring Horvat back to Vancouver, where he's still beloved. He suggests they send a trio of prospects, including Aatu Raty, to the Islanders in return.
Canucks receive: Bo Horvat
Islanders receive: Aatu Raty, Victor Mancini, Aku Koskenvuo
"In this revised landscape, Horvat is less of a burden and more of a strategic buyback. For Vancouver, acquiring a strong second-line center aligns perfectly. For New York, getting depth, youth, and flexibility might outweigh holding onto an aging contract," Benson said.
"One interesting wrinkle: the trade package going back to the Islanders could include Aatu Räty, who was part of Vancouver’s return in the first Horvat trade. Räty, currently a center/forward in the Canucks system, has shown development and upside. Including him in the deal would add a “homecoming reversal” flavor—the Islanders regaining a player they once gave up, now potentially further along," Benson added.
The 30-year-old, Horvat, has six years remaining on the eight-year, $68 million contract he signed upon being dealt to New York. With so much term left on his deal, the Islanders have no incentive to rush and trade Horvat unless someone comes to the table with an offer they can't refuse.
Vancouver chose Miller over Horvat
Flashback to the 2021-22 season and the summer to follow, and we can remember that it was J.T. Miller in all kinds of trade rumors, linked to the Pittsburgh Penguins, among others, throughout the year.
With both his and Horvat's contracts expiring after the 2022-23 season, it felt as if the Canucks had made up their minds on which star center to keep.
However, a Miller trade never came to fruition, and the whole situation flipped when he re-signed on a massive seven-year deal to stay in Vancouver in early September. That put the writing on the wall for Horvat's future as a Canuck, and we know how that ultimately ended a few months later.
The right decision seemed to have been made as Miller took control as the heart and soul in Vancouver while producing at the best rate of his career. But the locker room issues reached a boiling point in 2024-25, and now neither Miller nor Horvat is around, much to the chagrin of Canucks fans.
It leaves you wondering how differently it all would have played out if Jim Rutherford had a do-over.