Player Discussion Bo Horvat

[Regress2TheMeme]

I'd hate to deal Horvat unless the return was too good ignore. Somehow his untapped potential appears to be on the defensive, physical side of the game. That should be the low hanging fruit for a fitness buff like him. I could see him being a very complete player before too long. He might just need the right coach.

 

[Fatass]

Bo is definitely our Captain. He gets the “C” handed to him before the first home game by Henrik.
Bo scores 70 plus points this season. He’s also top three in voting for the Selke.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

There's no rush to make any decisions regarding captaincy. I agree that Bo is our best option, but we don't need to make that decision now. It's not uncommon for a team to have no captain for a season or so.

 

[CanaFan]

Bo is definitely our Captain. He gets the “C” handed to him before the first home game by Henrik.
Bo scores 70 plus points this season. He’s also top three in voting for the Selke.

He has an outside chance at 70 pts, I think that’s fair.

He has no chance at top 3 in Selke voting. None.

 

[Nucker101]

Bo’s defensive game is really overrated by Canuck fans.

 

[MS]

Bo’s defensive game is really overrated by Canuck fans.

So is his offensive game.

If the organization wants to keep the distraction of the captaincy away from him so he can focus solely in improving his on-ice performance, I agree with and support that completely.

 

[SniperHF]

this may not happen and they could name Horvat captain at the start of the season. but if they don"t this could be Bo Horvat"s last year in Vancouver?

Last offseason when Doan was gone, OEL was not named captain and there was a lot of going on about it.
Then they extended him for 8 years.

He still hasn't been named captain btw.

 

[PunkRockLocke]

I think he only moves if it's part of a deal to get the 1st overall in the 2019 draft here in Vancouver.

Also - not important, but, I think the Canucks add to a Horvat - Subban swap...we don't get their 1st rounder for free...

 

[Melvin]

My prediction is that we enter the season without an official captain, but partway through the season we awkwardly decide to name someone captain in a bumbling and embarrassing way.

 

[Aqualung]

I'd hate to deal Horvat unless the return was too good ignore. Somehow his untapped potential appears to be on the defensive, physical side of the game. That should be the low hanging fruit for a fitness buff like him. I could see him being a very complete player before too long. He might just need the right coach.

I also see that regardless of him rounding out his game as a complete player, if we do acquire another star center through the draft and Gaudette/Pettersson settle in effectively as centers for their own respective lines, then he could/should be moved and leveraged for other holes on this roster. This is my position at least at his current trajectory from the potential he has shown thus far, and barring some meteoric development into a true two-way stud, this should probably be the Canucks' position as well. Of course there is also the very real and likely possibility Gaudette and Peterson don't pan out as centers and Horvat still remains a necessity.

 

[Regress2TheMeme]

I also see that regardless of him rounding out his game as a complete player, if we do acquire another star center through the draft and Gaudette/Pettersson settle in effectively as centers for their own respective lines, then he could/should be moved and leveraged for other holes on this roster. This is my position at least at his current trajectory from the potential he has shown thus far, and barring some meteoric development into a true two-way stud, this should probably be the Canucks' position as well. Of course there is also the very real and likely possibility Gaudette and Peterson don't pan out as centers and Horvat still remains a necessity.

If we manage to hit the jackpot and land someone like J. Hughs then that changes everything. I don't see Gaudette or Pettersson becoming the kind of player Horvat could be so it shouldn't be a given he'd be the one to go if all three players miraculously hit their ceilings. Horvat isn't that player yet but wasn't he a guy that scored a lot in the dirty areas and won puck battles in Junior or was that a myth? Seems like he should be a beast along the boards with his weight and skating. We could see shades of Mike Fisher or Marian Hossa at his peak.

 

[Peter10]

I know of the rumours surrounding the 5th overall pick but not Horvat. Can you provide a source for this?

I dont think you will find a real source for this but when the rumor popped up there was speculation (maybe some with more knowledge to the details) that another major (young) part was included in the deal which, in consequence, resulted in Horvats name being thrown around.

 

[JT Milker]

This wouldn’t surprise me if we end up at the top of the draft next year. I would be surprised by these pieces specifically though, a bit too weighted in the Canucks’ direction, especially considering who’s negotiating.

 

[JuniorNelson]

Did anybody else notice how long the Canucks clung to the Sedins? No way do they bravely trade Horvat or Boeser. They do not have the testicular weight for that kind of move.

 

[valkynax]

Did anybody else notice how long the Canucks clung to the Sedins? No way do they bravely trade Horvat or Boeser. They do not have the testicular weight for that kind of move.

Nor does Dim Jim have the aptitude/fortitude to pull off a move like this and not come out looking like a total loser.

 

[Tables of Stats]

Woooooshhhhhhh

Little late there bro, the poster I quoted beat you to it by about 3 hours.

 

[Shareefruck]

Bo’s defensive game is really overrated by Canuck fans.

No kidding. It seems that many people's perception of his defensive game has been based solely on reputation only, almost as though they equate hard work/class/grit/tenacity/coach-a-bility for defensive prowess or something.

It's a joke.

Junior career aside, Bo Horvat was absolutely terrible defensively in his first few years-- arguably an outright liability, and only in the past year or so has he arguably improved to the point of adequacy.

Sven Baertschi is still currently a far superior defensive player than Horvat is at this point, IMO, yet he gets automatically labeled as a soft, lazy, one-dimensional player who's useless when he isn't scoring. Eriksson is noticeably better in his own end as well. Hell, even Boeser surprisingly is, based on the limited time we've seen him (which is something that really impresses me about the guy).

Bo Horvat's an awesome, dynamic player overall who everyone loves for a good reason, but his reputation as a "complete two-way hockey player" is completely undeserved at this point. The effort and willingness is there, but it hasn't translated into actual strong defensive play yet.

 

[Fatass]

Bo’s defensive game is really overrated by Canuck fans.

I don’t disagree with your point. I see Bo as an offensive star, who is ready to shine very bright. I see him as a better player than someone like Draisatl, and he gets paid nearly half. We are very blessed to have such a great talent as Bo.
Who is that way overpaid guy on the Sharks? Couture? Not a fan. Very overpaid and overrated.

 

[Bleach Clean]

I don’t disagree with your point. I see Bo as an offensive star, who is ready to shine very bright. I see him as a better player than someone like Draisatl, and he gets paid nearly half. We are very blessed to have such a great talent as Bo.
Who is that way overpaid guy on the Sharks? Couture? Not a fan. Very overpaid and overrated.

Couture is on a 6m AAV until 2022-2023. He has produced an average of 63 points over 82 games over a 5 year span, and has produced at an 1.24 PPG rate in the playoffs over the last 3 years. Are you serious? Horvat would be celebrated in this city if he ever puts together that kind of resume.

Better player than Draisaitl? LD has averaged 70 points over the last 3 seasons of play and is a year younger than Horvat.

Horvat is a good player, and those players are better. Takes nothing away from Horvat, he's just not on their level.

 

[Tables of Stats]

Better player than Draisaitl? LD has averaged 70 points over the last 3 seasons of play and is a year younger than Horvat.

Horvat is a good player, and those players are better. Takes nothing away from Horvat, he's just not on their level.

Drai's also played with a much better linemate than Horvat has had. That could change as Boeser matures into the NHL, but it's hard to say that Horvat couldn't put up 70 on McDavid's line or that Drai would score 70+ on the Canucks.

 

[lawrence]

Bo’s defensive game is really overrated by Canuck fans.

I think it's quite the oppososite actually. Stat watching Canuck fans just sees the Negative plus minus and assume he's a bad 2 way player, actually very underrated.

 

[Hansen]

My prediction is that we enter the season without an official captain, but partway through the season we awkwardly decide to name someone captain in a bumbling and embarrassing way.

Team is bottom of the league around allstar break and Benning and Green elect to “officially” name Brandon Sutter Captain, saying that he has always been the real solid backbone of the team in the room but not having a real Captain has led the ship astray and thats the reason theyve faltered thus far

 

[CanaFan]

Drai's also played with a much better linemate than Horvat has had. That could change as Boeser matures into the NHL, but it's hard to say that Horvat couldn't put up 70 on McDavid's line or that Drai would score 70+ on the Canucks.

Regardless it’s definitely hard to say Bo is a better player than Drai when he hasn’t actually done any of these things.

 

[Tables of Stats]

Regardless it’s definitely hard to say Bo is a better player than Drai when he hasn’t actually done any of these things.

By the same token Drai has rarely had to play without McDavid as either a linemate or the focus of the other teams best defensive specialists. It's a lot easier to score points when you have elite linemates or an elite player/line taking coverage from you and Horvat hasn't really had that luxury in his career.

 

[CanaFan]

By the same token Drai has rarely had to play without McDavid as either a linemate or the focus of the other teams best defensive specialists. It's a lot easier to score points when you have elite linemates or an elite player/line taking coverage from you and Horvat hasn't really had that luxury in his career.

I understand but that merely means Bo *might* be as good, if given the same opportunity. We don’t know that he actually is. There’s still a chance he isn’t.