Bo Horvat doesn’t always get treated like one of the NHL’s marquee centers, but the New York Islanders keep getting the same thing from him: goals, consistency and a heavy offensive workload.
That’s why he looks like such a reliable bet to finish at the top of the Islanders’ scoring chart again in 2026-27.
Horvat led the team with 31 goals last season even though he played in only 68 games. He also finished first on the club with seven game-winning goals, a total that tied for 11th in the NHL, and he put 226 shots on goal.
His early pace was even stronger before injuries interrupted things. Through his first 31 games, Horvat had 31 points and 19 goals, then the season became more uneven from there.
Still, the larger body of work says plenty. The 31-year-old has scored at least 28 goals in each of the past five seasons, and his career high is 38 goals, set in 2022-23, the year he was traded from Vancouver to the Islanders.
That kind of run makes another 30-goal season feel well within reach.
Horvat’s value isn’t limited to finishing chances, either. He remained a major factor in the face-off circle last season, winning 690 draws.
That made him one of just three NHL players to post at least 30 goals, 650 faceoff wins and 200 shots on goal. Dylan Larkin and Nathan MacKinnon were the other two.
Questions about how a scorer ages are going to follow Horvat as he moves deeper into his 30s. But based on what he’s done recently, there’s no obvious sign of a sharp decline coming.
If he stays healthy, Horvat should once again be right near the top of the Islanders’ leaderboard in goals, shots and overall offense.
In Other News...
Islanders Added A New Voice Up Top And Fans Will Notice
A familiar name is moving into a new seat in the Islanders ownership circle. David Shuman, a venture capitalist and lifelong fan of the team, has acquired minority ownership in the organization, adding another voice alongside majority owners Scott Malkin and John Ledecky as the franchise continues shaping its long-term future.
Shumans arrival gives the group another connected, invested presence at the top, and both he and Ledecky struck an upbeat note about what his involvement means for the club moving forward. The addition also fits the broader push around the Islanders ownership structure, though the terms of the deal were not disclosed. [Read more 🡒]
Brayden Schenn Suddenly Feels Central To The Islanders Reset
With the Islanders heading into camp with a mostly familiar roster, Brayden Schenn suddenly looks like one of the more important pieces of their next step. He is set to begin his first full season with the club after arriving at the trade deadline, and the expectation is that his blend of experience, physical play and responsibility at both ends of the ice will matter more as the season unfolds.
The timing matters because the Islanders are trying to reset without making sweeping changes, and that puts a premium on players who can absorb a heavier load right away. Schenn is already being viewed as a bigger voice in that mix, and with the leadership structure around him shifting, his fit could end up being one of the quieter but more telling storylines on Long Island. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Fans Still Wonder How This Draft Picks Path Unraveled
Bode Wilde once looked like one of the more intriguing finds in the Islanders 2018 draft class, a second-round pick whose early OHL stretch suggested there might be real upside to develop. But the path that followed never stayed linear. Injuries slowed him, playing time dried up in later seasons, and the momentum that usually carries a young defenseman from prospect status into organizational plans never really returned.
From there, Wildes career kept moving away from Long Island. He spent time with several teams in Europe after his North American opportunities narrowed, and now his route appears set to continue in Germany with Schwenninger Wild Wings in the DEL this season. For Islanders fans, it is another reminder of how quickly a promising draft story can unravel before it ever gets a chance to settle into something more familiar. [Read more 🡒]