NY Islanders center Bo Horvat sported a sewn on letter on his sweater Monday night

New York Islanders center Bo Horvat wore the “A” on Monday night versus the Philadelphia Flyers, a strong indication that he’ll be donning a letter as an assistant captain in what will be his second full season on Long Island. It's not unusual for multiple players to wear letters during the preseason, with lineups made up of prospects and AHLers. However, the Isles essentially dressed their opening night roster on Monday, meaning we should expect to see Horvat with a letter to start the year.

“Anytime you get an opportunity like this, it's special," Horvat told The Hockey News. "You don't take that lightly. You just try to work with class, perform every single game, and lead by example.” The Islanders' room is not short on leadership. Though Cal Clutterbuck, who wore the A, is no longer with the team, it still has a large stable of veterans, including Brock Nelson, who wore the other “A” and captain Anders Lee, who has worn the "C" since the start of the 2018-19 season.

Horvat was, of course, the captain of the Vancouver Canucks before being traded to the Islanders on Jan. 30, 2023. He was named an alternate captain for Vancouver in 2017, a month shy of his 22nd birthday. He has been a leader at every level, and his character has been displayed on the ice and in the community since his arrival on Long Island. Being named an alternate captain for the Isles was a natural progression for Horvat this season, and there may be another progression to come. Horvat has seven years left on his contract, while Lee has just two years remaining, meaning another letter could be sewn onto Horvat’s sweater before his Isles’ career ends.