Bo Horvat Named New York Islanders Captain, Succeeding Anders Lee

Bo Horvat was named captain of the New York Islanders on Monday, reclaiming the armband after his leadership stint with Vancouver. The 31-year-old will lead the team for the second time in his career, having captained the Canucks before being traded to the Islanders on January 30, 2023, in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty and a conditional 2023 first-round draft pick.

As reported by the NHL, Horvat said in late July that being captain means taking responsibility and facing the tough questions, easing the pressure on his teammates. He stressed that the role carries extra weight, but also gives others the chance to play freely for the good of the team, adding that the main goal remains winning games.

In his career, Horvat has recorded 618 points (300 goals, 318 assists) in 881 regular-season games, including 198 points (99 goals, 99 assists) in 260 appearances for New York. He is entering the fourth season of the eight-year contract he signed on February 5, 2023, six days after the trade to the Islanders.

According to the NHL, Horvat succeeds Anders Lee, who signed a three-year deal with the Utah Mammoth on July 1 after eight seasons as Islanders captain. The team opens training camp this week and begins the regular season on September 30 against the Toronto Maple Leafs; the league also lists nine teams currently without a captain: the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks.