The New York Islanders are in tough this season.
Sure, they acquired top pick Matthew Schaefer in this past summer’s 2025 NHL Entry Draft but other than that they made little in the way of offseason additions. They signed Tony DeAngelo, David Rittich and Jonathan Drouin… big whoop.
After missing the playoffs in 2024-25, there’s little hope of returning this season and so the watch is on for the trade deadline. Veterans Anders Lee and JG Pageau are both pending unrestricted free agents and will likely be in play on the trade market this offseason, but one player who could be in play, according to NHL insider Chris Johnston, is star forward Bo Horvat.
In particular, Johnston reports that Horvat could be an option for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and… get this… the Vancouver Canucks.
From Johnson on The Leaf Report this morning:
“Maybe some veteran forwards become available whether it’s…Pavel Zacha in Boston or Bo Horvat with the Islanders; players that could satisfy the needs in places like Montreal, Vancouver, maybe even Toronto.”
Could you imagine? The return of a former Canucks captain to Vancouver? Is this Trevor Linden all over again!?