Bo Horvat’s move to captain leaves the Islanders with one more important decision to make: who gets the vacant alternate captain’s letter.
There are a few names in the mix, and Adam Pelech would make sense. But the most obvious contenders appear to be three players already on the roster.
Mat Barzal is one of the longest-tenured Islanders, and he still has never worn a permanent letter. He’s also one of the most electric players in the league, though questions about his leadership have followed him at times.
Last season, he answered in a big way when Mason Marchment was roughing up Matthew Schaefer. Barzal responded with a two-handed tomahawk to Marchment’s ankle, a clear sign he was ready to stand up for a teammate.
At 29, it may be the right moment to hand him a leadership role.
Schaefer is the other obvious internal option. The young star made a massive impression in his rookie year and became the first unanimous winner of the Calder Trophy since 1992.
Even with the poise he’s shown on and off the ice in less than a year on Long Island, there’s no need to rush him into the captaincy picture. He’ll get to the ‘C’ eventually, but an ‘A’ would fit just fine for now.
Then there’s Brayden Schenn, acquired at the trade deadline. He already knows what it means to lead, having served as captain of the St.
Louis Blues and helped guide them to their first Stanley Cup. He hasn’t been with the Islanders long, but his leadership is beyond question, which keeps him firmly in the conversation for an alternate captain spot.
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Islanders Just Sent A Big Message About Bo Horvat
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Now the organization is officially putting the weight of the crest on him in a bigger way, a sign of how quickly he has earned trust since landing on Long Island. For a team looking for steadiness and a clear voice, the move says plenty about where Horvat stands within the group, even if the full impact of the decision will play out only as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Are Counting On Tony DeAngelo To Deliver Even More
The Islanders made a clear commitment to Tony DeAngelo when they brought back the veteran defenseman on a two-year contract, and the early read from inside the room is that the fit makes sense for both sides. DeAngelo said the negotiation went well and sounded happy to be back, while captain Bo Horvat and coach Bruce DeBoer pointed to the same traits that have made him valuable before: moving the puck cleanly, jumping into the attack and helping give the blue line more punch.
For a team that wants more from its defense and its power play, DeAngelos role carries some real weight. The Islanders are counting on him not just to be steady, but to add offense and transition speed in ways that can change how the group plays when the puck is on his stick. Even after all the praise and the new contract, there is still a sense around him that the story of what he can bring here may not be finished. [Read more 🡒]