Islanders Sign New Acquisition Bo Horvat To Huge Extension

The New York Islanders made sure that their assets didn't go to waste as they have already locked up Bo Horvat to a huge extension that runs through 2031. They agreed on an eight-year, $8.5 million AAV deal, per Elliotte Friedman. This cap hit is slightly above the AAV that J.T. Miller got in Vancouver. Horvat will be the second highest paid player on the Islanders behind Mathew Barzal's $9.15 million AAV that starts next season as well.

This signing of Horvat ensures that even if the team drops out of the playoff race this season, they are not going to rebuild and won't be flipping him before the deadline. The Islanders are two points back of the final wildcard spot with a few extra games played. They have two teams to jump and one of the league's top goal-scorers is now on the team. It isn't the toughest task for them to accomplish, but it won't be easy. The goal remains to get into the postseason and this Islanders team knows how to win playoff rounds.

Horvat has 31 goals and 54 points in 49 games this season. He has matched his career high in goals already from last season and is seven points from tying his career best in points. It may not turn out great giving a player with a career high in points of 61 that much money.

He is having a career year at age 27 and the trajectory from here is still tough to predict. Either this season is an outlier and Horvat will become overpaid on his new deal, or it is the start of him being a regular point-per-game player that can put the puck in the back of the net. Time will tell which way that ends up. But for now, the Islanders did exactly what they wanted in the Horvat trade.