Bo Horvat on career record-setting pace for the Islanders after 13 games

When the New York Islanders acquired Bo Horvat in January 2023, they knew they were finally getting a valuable points producer and scorer. But Horvat was never anything more than a point-per-game player with the Vancouver Canucks, and that remained the case on Long Island.

So far in 2025-26, the narrative is flipping, especially since the Islanders look like more of a high-octane team, with 43 goals in their first 13 games. Horvat has scored nine of those goals, putting him on pace for between 56 and 57 this season if he keeps up the same trajectory.

He has been an impact player all season long. Looking at his possession metrics at even strength, Horvat is rocking a 59.3 Corsi For percentage and a 14.0 on-ice shooting percentage to go with 15 on-ice goals. These numbers alone show that Horvat is helping to create chances as much as he is taking them, and it's a major reason the Isles are turning into one of the better scoring units in hockey.

Defensively, Horvat has also been pulling his weight. At even strength, his on-ice save percentage is a meager 87.3, but he has only been on the ice for nine goals allowed, which also puts him on an 82-game trajectory for between 56 and 57 on-ice goals allowed. It indicates that Horvat hasn't lost his value as a defensive forward, even as his scoring numbers trend north.

Bo Horvat is one of the biggest reasons Islanders fans can believe in their team

While the Islanders continue to retool and put faith into their young core, Horvat will be in town through 2031. That's great news for the Islanders, as Horvat, 30, is right in the middle of his prime and easily has another three or four elite seasons left in him, if not more.

He may not be part of the young core that includes Matthew Schaefer, Emil Heineman, Alexander Romanov, and Calum Ritchie, but the youngsters on Long Island will look at him as one of the leaders as this retool progresses. And with Horvat playing at such a high level, look for him to elevate their play as they keep getting used to playing alongside one another as a unit.

Even if the Islanders move veterans like John-Gabriel Pageau, don't expect Horvat to go anywhere. He's too valuable a puzzle piece to move, and still young enough to be in town when the Islanders start winning consistently again.

Matthew Schaefer may be getting a lot of the attention because he's been playing so well that it's making opposing teams angry enough to target him, but Horvat is arguably the biggest reason fans can feel optimistic about the Islanders right now. Schaefer will be the leader and one of the team's best point producers for years, but players like Horvat are making the Islanders a relevant team here in 2025-26. And he may shatter a few career-highs in the process.