New update emerges on former Canuck Bo Horvat before Islanders‑Canucks showdown
Photo credit: Edit from The Hockey News
The Canucks are set to face their former captain and the Islanders tomorrow, but unfortunately for Bo Horvat, he has been ruled out with an injury.
The Vancouver Canucks were set to face their former captain, Bo Horvat, and the New York Islanders tomorrow, but Horvat will miss the game due to a lower-body injury.
Horvat was traded to the Islanders in 2023 for a first-round pick, Anthony Beauvillier, and Aatu Raty, a move that divided the Canucks fanbase. The team chose to extend JT Miller instead of Horvat, leaving fans debating the decision.
At the time, both Horvat and Miller were 30-goal scorers, supported by Elias Pettersson at center.
What made retaining Bo Horvat in Vancouver impossible
Miller's extension made retaining Horvat impossible, and the following season saw Horvat score a career-high 33 goals while Miller posted 37 goals and 102 points. Horvat's breakout essentially priced him out of Vancouver, confirming the trade.
The Canucks' first season without Horvat appeared strong. Vancouver finished first in their division with 50 wins and 109 points, Rick Tocchet won coach of the year, and Quinn Hughes earned the Norris Trophy.
A seven-game playoff loss to the Edmonton Oilers suggested there was still work to do.
How the first round pick acquired in the Bo Horvat deal came in handy
The next season, Miller struggled, scoring just nine goals and clashing with Pettersson, leading to a trade to the New York Rangers. Vancouver used the first-round pick from the Horvat deal to acquire Marcus Pettersson and offload contracts.
Despite roster moves and adding players like Filip Chytil, the Canucks fell to 18th in the league with 90 points, missing the playoffs. Rick Tocchet left, and assistant coach Adam Foote was promoted to head coach.
Entering the 2025-26 season, with Miller in New York and Horvat on the Islanders, the Canucks made another move and traded Quinn Hughes, and are at the bottom of the NHL standings, continuing a challenging stretch while trying to manage roster changes.
Previously on HockeyLatest
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 18 | 95 ANSWERS New update emerges on former Canuck Bo Horvat before Islanders‑Canucks showdown Will the Canucks beat the Bo Horvat-less Islanders? | ||
| Yes | 63 | 66.3 % |
| No | 32 | 33.7 % |
| List of polls | ||