The Islanders officially named Bo Horvat captain on Monday morning, resolving one of training camp’s central questions well ahead of the season.
Horvat, who previously served as captain in Vancouver, becomes the 16th player in franchise history to wear the C.
He takes over from Anders Lee, who had been captain since John Tavares departed in 2018. Lee signed with the Utah Mammoth in free agency after negotiations with the Islanders broke down.
At the start of August, coach Pete DeBoer said he expected to name a captain, though he planned to wait until the team reached New York to discuss the decision.
Horvat emerged as the clear choice. He had already served as an alternate captain, led in a demanding market with Vancouver and had long been viewed as a leader within the Islanders’ locker room.
The move formally establishes Horvat as the franchise’s next captain.
