Bo Horvat Injury Update, Salary, Wife, and Career Stats

Bo Horvat’s absence reshapes the New York Islanders’ lineup. The center missed nine games after a lower-body injury on January 1, 2026, and returned on January 24, 2026.

Current team: New York Islanders ·
Position: Center / Alternate captain ·
Age: 29 (born April 5, 1995) ·
2023-24 points: 61 (27 goals, 34 assists) ·
Salary (2024-25): $8.5 million ·
Recent injury: Missed 9 games (lower body), returned Jan 24, 2026

Ten key details that define Bo Horvat’s profile:

What happened to Bo Horvat?

Bo Horvat sustained a lower-body injury during a game against the Utah Hockey Club on January 1, 2026. The Islanders announced the next day that he would miss at least one week, according to NHL.com (official league status report). Head coach Patrick Roy said Horvat would be re-evaluated after that week and would not play during the interim.

When did Bo Horvat get injured?

• The injury occurred on January 1, 2026, in a game against Utah. Horvat left the ice after a routine shift and did not return.
• The Islanders classified it as a lower-body injury per ESPN (sports news outlet).

How long will Bo Horvat be out?

• Roy initially said Horvat would miss at least one week (NHL.com).
• He ultimately missed nine games and returned on January 24, 2026 against the Buffalo Sabres, as reported by Sportsnet (Canadian sports network).

What is the nature of the injury?

• The Islanders have not disclosed specifics beyond “lower-body.”
• The injury came one day after Horvat was named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster, per Sportsnet.

The pattern of recurring lower-body injuries raises concerns about his long-term durability.

Is Bo Horvat Croatian?

Yes, Bo Horvat has Croatian heritage through his father, though he represents Canada internationally. The surname Horvat is common in Croatia and other Balkan countries.

What is Bo Horvat’s ethnic background?

• Horvat’s father is of Croatian descent; his mother is of Canadian/European background.
• He holds Canadian nationality and has played for Canada at the World Championship and Olympic level.

Is his last name Croatian?

• Yes, “Horvat” is a common Croatian surname, equivalent to “Horvath” in Hungarian. It originates from the Croatian word for “Croat.”

What this means: Horvat’s Croatian heritage adds depth to his identity, but his international career is firmly with Canada.

What is Bo Horvat’s current salary?

Horvat signed an eight-year, $68 million contract extension with the New York Islanders on February 5, 2023, just days after being traded from Vancouver. The deal carries an $8.5 million average annual cap hit through the 2030-31 season.

How much does Bo Horvat earn per year?

• His cap hit is $8.5 million, according to ESPN (sports media outlet).
• His previous contract had a $5.5 million cap hit, making the raise substantial.

What is the length of his current contract?

• Eight years, running from the 2023-24 season through 2030-31.
• He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023 before signing, per ESPN.

The implication: The Islanders are betting on Horvat’s scoring consistency despite injury risks.

What is Bo Horvat’s real name?

His full legal name is Bowie William Horvat. The nickname “Bo” is a shortened form of his first name, an abbreviation common in Canadian hockey culture.

Why is he called Bo?

• “Bo” is a natural shortening of “Bowie,” similar to how “Bobby” stems from “Robert.” It’s been his public identity since his junior hockey days with the London Knights.

The pattern: His nickname ‘Bo’ is a common abbreviation, reflecting his Canadian hockey upbringing.

Who is Bo Horvat’s wife?

Bo Horvat is married to Holly Horvat (née Knowles). The couple married in July 2021 and have a daughter born in 2022.

How did Bo Horvat meet his wife?

• Both were students at the same high school in London, Ontario, and began dating during his junior hockey years. Details from public interviews and social media posts.

Does Bo Horvat have children?

• Yes, a daughter born in 2022. The family resides on Long Island during the season.

What this means: His family life is a stabilizing factor in his career.

What trade brought Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders?

The Vancouver Canucks traded Horvat to the Islanders on January 30, 2023 in a blockbuster deal that sent forward Anthony Beauvillier, prospect Aatu Räty, and a conditional first-round pick to Vancouver, as confirmed by NHL.com (official league site).

When was Bo Horvat traded?

• January 30, 2023.

What was the return for the Canucks?

• Anthony Beauvillier (forward), Aatu Räty (prospect), and a conditional first-round pick (which became the 17th overall pick in 2023).

The catch: The trade was a win-win, but the injury history adds uncertainty for the Islanders.

What are Bo Horvat’s career stats and recent performance?

Horvat has established himself as a reliable two-way center with consistent scoring. Through the 2023-24 season, he has recorded over 500 career points in more than 700 games, per NHL.com (official league stats).

How many points did Bo Horvat score in 2023-24?

• 27 goals, 34 assists — 61 points in 81 games.
• His shooting percentage was 14.1%, above his career average.

What are his career totals?

• As of the end of 2023-24: 235 goals, 303 assists — 538 points in 711 games.
• He won 53.2% of faceoffs over his career, a strong mark for a center.

The implication: The Islanders need Horvat to stay healthy to justify the investment.

Timeline of key events

• April 5, 1995: Born in London, Ontario.
• June 30, 2013: Selected 9th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL Draft (NHL.com).
• October 9, 2019: Named the 14th captain of the Vancouver Canucks.
• January 30, 2023: Traded to the New York Islanders (NHL.com).
• February 5, 2023: Signed eight-year, $68 million extension with the Islanders (ESPN).
• May 2025: Sustained a lower-body injury at the IIHF World Championship, missed four to six weeks per PuckPedia (cap-tracking site).
• January 1, 2026: Lower-body injury against Utah, out one week initially (ESPN).
• January 24, 2026: Returned against Buffalo after missing nine games (Sportsnet).
• June 2026: Montreal reportedly called about Horvat, but Islanders declined according to Yahoo Sports (sports news aggregator).

The pattern: Horvat’s timeline shows a career marked by achievements and injury setbacks.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

The catch: The unresolved questions about his health and role will shape the Islanders’ future decisions.

“It’s a great opportunity. I’m excited to join the Islanders and be part of this organization.”

— Bo Horvat, after the trade (via NHL.com)

“He’s a competitor. We’ll see how he feels after a week and go from there.”

— Patrick Roy, on Horvat’s injury (via NHL.com)

Bo Horvat’s journey — from Canucks captain to Islanders alternate, from a $68 million contract to recurring injury setbacks — reveals a player whose value remains high but whose availability is now a recurring question. For the Islanders, the decision is clear: lean on his leadership and two-way game when healthy, but build depth to cover for the stretches he misses.

The Bo Horvat injury update provides a thorough look at what comes next for the Islanders’ center.

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