Islanders, Bo Horvat, agree to eight-year contract extension

The New York Islanders have announced the signing of center Bo Horvat to an eight-year contract extension. The contract is worth $68M and carries an AAV of $8.5M per season, according to Elliotte Friedman.

Horvat’s previous contract carries an AAV of $5.5M and expires after the 2022-23 season. He has not played a game for the Islanders yet.

The 27-year-old was acquired by the Islanders on Jan. 30 for winger Anthony Beauvillier, forward prospect Aatu Raty, and a conditional first-round pick in this year’s draft. As soon as the trade news arrived a contract extension was expected to follow.

Horvat was the subject of rumors and speculation for much of the 2022-23 season. He was traded to the Islanders by the Vancouver Canucks with more than a month to go before the March 3 trade deadline.

Horvat was having a breakout season in Vancouver prior to the trade that sent him to New York. In 49 games, he has 31 goals and 54 points. 

The 31 goals matched his career-high previously set in the 2021-22 season. This year, he is on track for 51 goals and 90 points. His previous career-high was 61 points.

The London, Ontario native was originally selected ninth overall by the Canucks in the 2013 NHL Draft. The pick used to draft him was acquired by Vancouver in exchange for starting goaltender Cory Schneider. 

Schneider went on to play eight seasons with the New Jersey Devils, five of them as the starting goaltender.

Horvat was the longest tenured player in a Canucks uniform and has never played for another NHL team in his career. He solidified his role as a solid second-line center who can put up 50-60 points every season. 

He has upped his game to another level this year which explains the urgency with which the Islanders acquired him.

In his career, Horvat has played 621 games scoring 201 goals and 420 points. He also has 11 goals and 16 points in 23 career playoff games. He will play an important role in the Islanders’ quest for the playoffs this season.