Talk about killing two birds with one stone. This single proposal from Heavy.com would answer the burning question for a pair of NHL teams entering the 2025-26 season.
The Montreal Canadiens (currently $4,568,333 of projected salary cap space) get:
- Bo Horvat ($8,500,000 per season through 2029-30)
The New York Islanders (currently $1,625,000 of projected salary cap space) get:
- Kirby Dach ($3,362,500, restricted free agent after this season)
- Joseph Veleno ($900,000, restricted free agent after this season)
- one of non-rostered forward prospects Joshua Roy, Owen Beck or Oliver Kapanen (Islanders’ choice)
- 2026 second-round pick
And both teams get a pretty large weight off their shoulders. Which, of course, is priceless.
For the Canadiens, it finally puts to rest the deafening discussion about who will center their No. 2 line. The 30-year-old Horvat has been a consistent producer and team leader throughout his 12-plus season career, and he would slide in very nicely behind Nick Suzuki in the Montreal depth chart.
For the Islanders, it puts an emphatic stamp on new general manager Mathieu Darche’s commitment to rebuilding the franchise. Hired in May – a month after the team announced that Lou Lamoriello would not be returning to the position – the 48-year-old Darche significantly jumpstarted the turnaround with some draft lottery luck into the first overall pick and the Noah Dobson trade that added two more first-round selections. This trade would give New York another big push in its new direction.
Islanders Would Propel Rebuild With Trade of Bo Horvat to Montreal
Certainly, the future assets should be worthwhile for Darche.
The 2026 draft is considered to be deep, and any additional picks carry significant weight. As for Roy, Beck, and Kapanen, they are top 10 prospects in a deep pool for the Canadiens, and all three of them are on the verge of sticking at the NHL level. Having recently worked with the Canadiens for the Dobson trade, New York should have a good knowledge of the players in the Montreal system, potentially easing the decision on which of the three to include in the package.
Veleno is a one-year rental, just to make the salaries fit under the cap, but Dach could turn out to be the biggest get for the Islanders. Dach could also turn out to be the biggest beneficiary of the change in scenery.
By this point, Dach’s story is pretty well known: No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, traded to the Canadiens in a 2022 deal for a pair of draft picks, including a first-rounder that was used to select Frank Nazar. Dach’s time in Montreal has been significantly impacted by injuries, the latest requiring knee surgery last February, which has led to questions about his availability for the season opener.
Dach’s skills are unquestioned, and if he’s able to stay healthy, he could combine with Matthew Barzal to give the Islanders a formidable 1-2 punch at center. And if Dach finds success on Long Island, he would be wise to sign a two-year bridge deal with New York and prove himself worthy of a longer, more lucrative contract when he gets his next bite at the free agency apple.
Bo Horvat Would Perfectly Fill Canadiens’ Need for No. 2 Center
For Montreal, pulling the trigger on this deal would do more than just check the “second-line center” box — it would give the Canadiens a stability they haven’t truly had in several seasons. Horvat brings a complete, reliable game built on faceoff dominance, net-front presence, and the kind of consistency that takes pressure off Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
In a lineup still finding its balance, Horvat’s ability to chip in 25–30 goals while eating tough defensive minutes could free up Montreal’s younger forwards to play looser, faster, and more creative hockey. He’s also been a captain in the league, and for a young core, that kind of built-in leadership has value beyond the scoresheet.
Financially, the Canadiens would be making a clear commitment to their current window, betting that Horvat’s contract — while heavy — lines up with the prime years of Suzuki, Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovský. That “win-now while building for tomorrow” balance has always been tricky, but Horvat could tilt it in their favor. He isn’t just a placeholder behind Suzuki; he’s the kind of veteran pivot who elevates a team from “promising” to “credible playoff contender.”
In the end, a Horvat trade would represent a gamble on stability: Montreal gives up youth and flexibility but gains the surest solution possible to their longstanding center depth problem.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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