The Islanders have settled their leadership picture for the 2026-27 season, and the biggest change is at the top.
Bo Horvat has been named the 16th captain in franchise history, taking over the role after Anders Lee’s eight-season run ended with his departure in free agency. Lee signed a three-year deal with the Utah Mammoth, closing out a 14-year stretch with New York.
Horvat’s promotion marks the second captaincy of his career. He previously wore the “C” with the Vancouver Canucks from Oct. 9, 2019, through Jan. 30, 2023, before the Islanders acquired him in a trade. He quickly moved into a leadership role in New York as well, serving as an alternate captain before being elevated to captain a few weeks ago.
The rest of the captain group is now in place, too. Kyle Palmieri will return as one of the alternates after first getting the “A” from Patrick Roy in March of 2025, following Brock Nelson’s trade to the Colorado Avalanche. Ryan Pulock also remains part of the mix after being given a partial alternate role on road games after Nelson was moved, then taking on the job full-time ahead of the 2025-26 season.
New to the leadership group are Matthew Schaefer and Brayden Schenn, giving the Islanders four alternate captains under Horvat for the 2026-27 season.
Schaefer, just 19, already has some experience in the role. He served as an alternate captain with the Erie Otters in the OHL when he was 17 and in his second year with the club.
Schenn arrives with a similar résumé from his previous stop, where he was captain of the St. Louis Blues before being traded to New York ahead of last season’s deadline.
Schenn had been in that organization’s leadership group for years, starting as an alternate in 2020 before being named captain in 2023.
The alternates will split duties by venue. Schenn and Pulock will wear the “A” on road games, while Schaefer and Palmieri will wear it at home.
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