BREAKING: Bo Horvat Agrees to 8-Year Extension With Islanders

“My wife and I talked about this place a lot. Honestly, it was probably in my top five right from the beginning,” Bo Horvat said about the extension. “I don’t know the area too, too well, but I can’t wait to get to know it for eight years.”

As mentioned, Horvat had a week, with being traded Jan. 30 and the All-Star festivities, but signing an extension is a major relief for him and his family.

“Honestly, it’s a relief, to be honest with you. It’s been a mental grind, to say the least,” Horvat said. “And to finally lock it in and kind of be set up somewhere for the…the unknowing was kind of the place or the thing that was kind of hindering me and my family the most, so to be locked in here for years is special to me, it’s special to my family, and we can’t wait to get everybody here.”

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello shared that the extension came to be first thing Sunday morning.

“Well, I’m pleased that not only [do we have] depth at center, but that we’ve got a player of this caliber who, you know, brings it every night in as a 200-foot player,” Lamoriello said. “There’s no question he’ll be an asset to our team.

Horvat will be 35 when his contract runs out, an unrestricted free agent following 2030-31.

“I think we’re gonna have a good, hopefully great, eight years together,” Islanders teammate Mathew Barzal said. “So yeah, that’s really good. We’re all excited. This was a big spark, for sure.”

Mat Barzal signed an eight-year, $73.2 million deal back in September.

“I think it reiterates what we’re trying to do here,” Islanders Matt Martin said. “And he’s a great player and a huge addition for our team.”

Islanders head coach Lane Lambert was thrilled to have a player like Horvat at his disposal.

“I think it’s fantastic. The extension is great,” Lambert said. “It gives him the opportunity to just focus on hockey, not worry about any anything else, any outside distractions.”

In 49 games in 2022-23, Horvat has 31 goals with 23 assists. He will make his Islanders debut on Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers.