Bo Horvat will wear number 14 with the New York Islanders

Horvat chose to wear jersey number 53 to this point in his career as a way to tribute former London Knights teammate Ian Jenkins, who died in a car accident in May 2011.  He wore 53 during his junior career, and for the entirety of his NHL tenure with the Canucks, the club who drafted him in 2013.

Horvat becomes the 22nd player in Islanders history to wear number 14.

Casey Cizikas has worn 53 for the Islanders ever since his career began with the club in the 2011-12 season. A fourth round pick of the Islanders in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the 31 year old Cizikas has appeared in 715 games in the NHL, all of which have been with the Islanders. Horvat said yesterday that he would talk with his family — who he’s currently on vacation with at Disney World as he awaits the All-Star Game in Florida — about which number he would choose to wear moving forward in Long Island.

Horvat was traded to the Islanders on Monday, with Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, and a 2023 first round pick coming back to Vancouver in return. In his first press conference as an Islander, Horvat said that he thought he would be a Canuck for life, and that he’s very excited for a fresh start with the Islanders.

Many expect the Islanders to work out a long-term extension with Horvat’s agent Pat Morris before the All-Star break comes to an end.

The Canucks will pay Horvat and the Islanders on Thursday, February 9th, meaning it won’t be long until number 14 for the Islanders faces off against his old Canucks teammates.

“That’s going to be an interesting game, to say the least,” said Horvat yesterday when asked about the tilt with his now-former team.