The NHL season is just around the corner. Here at Last Word On Hockey, we are looking at the league’s star players and how they might perform. We will bring you a recap of their previous season(s) stats and the prospective situation coming into this campaign. Then, we try to project what their point totals will look like for this coming season. Today, we are examining one of the core members of the New York Islanders, Bo Horvat. Horvat, since being traded over from the Vancouver Canucks has been one of New York’s top performers.
Bo Horvat 2025-26 Point Projection Starting with Reviewing Last Year
Last season was not a great one for the Islanders as a team. However, Bo Horvat was one of the bright spots in what was a trying season. He operated as the team’s top line centre at even strength and on the power play. With Mathew Barzal out for most of the season, Horvat had to pick up a lot of the slack. He had to be the driving force for the team to score any goals. This contributed to him leading the team in points. In 81 games, he had 57 points with 28 goals and 29 assists. With a returning Barzal to take the pressure off and a new linemate, we think that number should be on the rise for Horvat.
There were some questions about the availability of Bo as the season draws near. Horvat sustained an ankle injury in May while playing for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. However, he spoke with a reporter on Monday and said he will be ready when the team opens up training camp.
New Year, Same Role
Coming into the new season, it is expected that Horvat will take on the same role as last. He will likely occupy a top-line centre role and skate with the first power play unit this year.
He could have one, to potentially two, new linemate(s) to work with this season. The one new mate for sure will be Jonathan Drouin. Drouin, who scored 37 points in 43 games last year, is a threat on the ice when he can stay healthy. He has been limited to 60 games or fewer in five of the last six seasons. However, with shooting percentages of 19.6% and 15.0% the last two seasons, he is someone who can really shoot the puck effectively when healthy. That should work well next to Horvat’s playmaking ability and his pass-first mentality.
Moreover, the other linemate is currently up in the air. It is possible it will be the veteran Kyle Palmieri. He played with Horvat last year, so the two have chemistry, and he is also a shoot-first player. Or it could be a rookie from the KHL in Maxim Shabanov, who is lightning fast and has nice hands. That style will certainly play next to Horvat, who is one of the best passers in the league.
On the power play, Horvat should centre a top unit with Drouin and Barzal. This has the potential to be an explosive unit if everything comes together. Last season with the man advantage, the Islanders were far from that, ranking 31st in the league. This led to Horvat only having seven power play points, which really hurt his overall total. A far cry from the year before in 2023-24, where he collected 18 power play points. In that season, Horvat finished with 68 points, which is more in the range of where he usually falls.
Horvat’s Statistical Projection for 2025-26
In his first two full seasons with the Islanders, Horvat has remained healthy, playing in 81 games both years. He collected 68 points in 2023-24, that was before falling off a little to 57 in 2024-25. His career high is 70, but that was in 2022-23 when he was traded to New York halfway through the season. At age 30, he should still have a few more prime years left. He remains in his top-line role, so he could set a new career high this season. His floor can be set at 52-55 points. While his ceiling can be set at 75-80+.
If he plays a full season, a realistic projection for Horvat would be:
Games Played: 80
Goals: 28-30
Assists: 40-42
Total Points: 68-72
Closing Thoughts
This projection for Horvat factors in a full healthy season, an improved power play and chemistry between his new line mates, and that they stay healthy too. If the Islanders want any chance of reaching the playoffs, they will need this kind of production. With Horvat’s playmaking and passing skills, he could reach new point heights this season. He will need to be a centrepiece of the offence, as well as being relied on for his strong two-way play, winning faceoffs, and playing defence in late-game situations. While those things won’t show up on a highlight reel, they make him so valuable to his team.
Main Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski – USA TODAY Sports
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