The New York Islanders have announced the signing of center Bo Horvat to an eight-year contract extension. The contract is valued at $68 million with an AAV of $8.5 million per season, according to Elliotte Friedman.
Horvat’s previous contract has an AAV of $5.5 million and expires after the 2022-23 season. He has yet to play a game for the Island.
The 27-year-old player was acquired from the Island on January 30 for winger Anthony Beauvillier, forward Aatu Raty and the conditional first-round pick in this year’s draft. Immediately after receiving the commercial news, a contract extension should follow.
Horvat has been the subject of rumor and speculation for much of the 2022-23 season. He was traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Islanders more than a month before the March 3 trade deadline.
Horvat had a breakout season in Vancouver before the trade that sent him to New York. In 49 games he has 31 goals and 54 points.
The 31 goals equaled his career high previously scored in the 2021–22 season. He is on his way to 51 goals and 90 points this year. His previous career high was 61 points.
The London, Ontario native was originally drafted ninth overall by the Canucks in the 2013 NHL Draft. The pick he was drafted with was acquired by Vancouver in exchange for starting goaltender Cory Schneider.
Schneider played eight seasons with the New Jersey Devils, five of them as a starting goaltender.
Horvat was the longest serving player in a Canucks jersey and never played for another NHL team in his career. He has cemented his role as a solid second line center capable of 50-60 points per season.
He took his game to a new level this year, which explains the urgency with which the islands adopted him.
In his career, Horvat 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 a key role in the Islanders’ quest for the playoffs this season.
Source: www.yardbarker.com
