Benning on Horvat with 2 more games to impress: "I would like him to stay"

[TheRussianRocket.]

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Willes+Canucks+high+Horvat/10406347/story.html

Canucks high on Bo Horvat

Vancouver Canucks' Bo Horvat celebrates after scoring his first NHL goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday November 20, 2014.

Jim Benning doesn’t come right out and say the Canucks will keep Bo Horvat beyond his nine-game probation period, but he did offer some subtle hints that, you know, Horvat might want to start looking at condo prices around Rogers Arena.

“My personal view is I’d like him to stay,” the Canucks GM said. “That will put him one year ahead in his development.”

And.

“(Horvat) fills an organizational need. He’s a big body up the middle, he can win faceoffs and he has a mature defensive game. He’s got a skill set we need going forward. He’s important to this organization.”

And, just in case you still missed the point: “He’s got the physicality, so that’s not in question. He can play with men. The part of the game he excels at are the things coaches worry about with young kids.”

So, it would seem the Canucks are high on Horvat and the 19-year-old from Rodney, Ont., didn’t exactly hurt his cause with a breakout performance against Anaheim on Thursday night.

That doesn’t mean his place in the lineup has been secured. It does mean, however, things are going to have to go completely off the rails in his next two games for the Canucks to change their minds about their prize asset.

“This is where I want to be,” Horvat said on Saturday. “It’s been my dream.”

And he’s so close now he can taste it.

It’s a delicate balance, this issue of playing teenagers at the NHL level, and more than one hotshot prospect has been ruined by being rushed into the show.

But Horvat, it seems, isn’t most teenagers and the faithful might want to remember Thursday’s game and a late injury to Alex Burrows that opened a spot for the 2013 first-rounder.

Horvat, who was headed for the press box, responded with his first NHL goal while playing just under 10 minutes and winning 64 per cent of his faceoffs. He was also matched against old pal Ryan Kesler for much of the second period and, in one memorable sequence, cleaned Kesler on back-to-back draws in the offensive zone.

For the organization, this is a happy development. The last teenager to score a goal for the Canucks was — ta-da! — Kesler back in ’03-04, which means it’s been a while since they had a prospect who generated this kind of buzz. True, Horvat isn’t a pull-you-out-of-your-seat player, as Kesler could be, but, as Benning said, he has a game and a presence which is mature beyond his years.

As luck would have it, his game is also suited to the fourth-line grinder role he figures to assume if he sticks in Vancouver. The next question — and it’s the big one according to Benning — concerns the amount of ice time he’ll get in that posting, and in Willie Desjardins’ four-line deployment, that shouldn’t be an issue.

“After every game we sit down as a management team and talk about his situation,” said Benning. “Did he get enough ice time in that game? Can we develop him with the ice time he’s getting?”

I'm with JB here. In his first 7 games, Bo has played near perfect hockey. In his sheltered minutes, Bo's shown no reason why he shouldn't stick. Has a great defensive game, anticipates the ice very well, and hits the net like the ox he is. Displayed he can play at the NHL pace and got rewarded with his first ever goal last game, one which he showed great natural instincts, creating separation, attacking the net, and sniping it. And not to mention, he's an excellent faceoff man.

And in all honesty, there really isn't a reason to send him back. He's always described as scoring "NHL-style goals" (i.e. gritty goals around the net), and he's not going to get any better at that in Junior. His defensive game has maxed out at the Junior level and I don't really see how he can realistically improve more there as well. The only way to go up from here is to transfer over his game to the pro level and adapt and I'm sure he's earned his right to do so.

...guess it's safe to say management is leaning on keeping The Ox fulltime. If so (Please please please, so be it), here's to the beginning of a new era of Canucks hockey folks!!!!

[Junkyard Dog]

If WD gives him quality minutes I am on board. Otherwise send him down.

[HC20.0]

Bo's had a couple good, and bad games. He's looked NHL ready, and then junior bound. It'll be interesting to see what the last two games bring. I hope he sticks, but lets see how he does.

[TheRussianRocket.]

If WD gives him quality minutes I am on board. Otherwise send him down.

Quality, not quantity. 10 quality minutes > 15+ quantity minutes. Pretty sure Willie has been on top of it since the get go. Not a problem in my mind at all.

Bo's had a couple good, and bad games. He's looked NHL ready, and then junior bound. It'll be interesting to see what the last two games bring. I hope he sticks, but lets see how he does.

I disagree. All his games he's been good. Some great, the rest good. I can't remember which game it was but a few games ago he has 1 bad shift making a number of mistakes but that's part of the learning curve I guess. Other than that, he honestly has been sound and hasn't skipped a beat.

[Junkyard Dog]

Quality, not quantity. 10 quality minutes > 15+ quantity minutes. Pretty sure Willie has been on top of it since the get go. Not a problem in my mind at all.

Three games prior to the ANA game, which has been Bo's best game thus far, he averaged 7 minutes. Horvat's going to need to play more minutes then that id we are keeping him.

WD hasn't really played him a lot in tight games, besides the ANA game(primarily because it was the tail end of a back to back and it did not hurt that he played well that game).

Edit: I thought I said quality?

[Bruce Boudreau]

Guess this puts the will he or won't he stay question under Horvat talk to bed... he's staying I guess. Now time to see if his minutes get some consistency with this news.

[TheRussianRocket.]

Three games prior to the ANA game, which has been Bo's best game thus far, he averaged 7 minutes. Horvat's going to need to play more minutes then that id we are keeping him.

WD hasn't really played him a lot in tight games, besides the ANA game(primarily because it was the tail end of a back to back and it did not hurt that he played well that game).

Edit: I thought I said quality?

Yea, true too. You did lol, I just re-stated it. Just wanted to say cause some people think quality is 15 mins for a young guy like Bo

[Gaudette Celly]

“My personal view is I’d like him to stay,” the Canucks GM said. “That will put him one year ahead in his development.”

And.

“(Horvat) fills an organizational need. He’s a big body up the middle, he can win faceoffs and he has a mature defensive game. He’s got a skill set we need going forward. He’s important to this organization.”

And, just in case you still missed the point: “He’s got the physicality, so that’s not in question. He can play with men. The part of the game he excels at are the things coaches worry about with young kids.”

I'd say that's just about a wrap, folks. Benning hasn't really hidden that he's very much wanted Bo to make the team.

http://forum.canucks.com/gallery/image/3575-buzzsawbo/

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

Future looks bright for this organization, so whatever choice it is im fine with, more concerned about how he will be 5 years down the road if we keep him or not.

[two drink minimum]

Horvat has played a grand total of seven NHL games. If he was getting only 7 minutes a game after playing 40-50 games then I could see having a discussion about him going back to JR. Until then he stays up and continues his development here.

[Junkyard Dog]

Yea, true too. You did lol, I just re-stated it. Just wanted to say cause some people think quality is 15 mins for a young guy like Bo

It is all on how WD uses him. I think he is ready and want him to prove what I think with quality minutes. Again that's up to how WD uses him.

If his next two games are on par with ANA and COL, wher he averaged over 9 minutes and was very noticeable in that time, then I will definitely want him here.

If they are like those three games I talked about where he never played enough minutes to make a significant difference then I think he should be sent down.

[ForsbergTheGreat]

That would means someone will be dealt when the team gets back to being healthy.

It does no good to the development of a player like Horvat or even Vey and Kassian to have one of them always being a healthy scratch.

• Matthias has looked a lot better, possibly upped his value but I'd like him to stay and keep using his big body on the 3rd line.
• Burrows has had a bounce back year, value is probably rising, but he is a heart and sole player that brings a lot to this team
• Hansen has too big of a contact to be sitting in the press box everynight, could see him being moved
• Richardson is our strongest defensive player, plays PK, takes the big faceoffs. Unless they feel Horvat can replace what he brings I don't see him moving.
• Dorsett is the new guy that Benning specifically brought in, could see him being a healthy scratch every now and then but not enough to be a constant 13th forward
• Higgins is playing like a 2nd line winger this year, don't see him being shipped without a bit of an overpayment. Maybe Pits could be interest in a player like him now that Dupuis is done.

[TheRussianRocket.]

That would means someone will be dealt when the team gets back to being healthy.

It does no good to the development of a player like Horvat or even Vey and Kassian to have one of them always being a healthy scratch.

• Matthias has looked a lot better, possibly upped his value but I'd like him to stay and keep using his big body on the 3rd line.
• Burrows has had a bounce back year, value is probably rising, but he is a heart and sole player that brings a lot to this team
• Hansen has too big of a contact to be sitting in the press box everynight, could see him being moved
• Richardson is our strongest defensive player, plays PK, takes the big faceoffs. Unless they feel Horvat can replace what he brings I don't see him moving.
• Dorsett is the new guy that Benning specifically brought in, could see him being a healthy scratch every now and then but not enough to be a constant 13th forward
• Higgins is playing like a 2nd line winger this year, don't see him being shipped without a bit of an overpayment. Maybe Pits could be interest in a player like him now that Dupuis is done.

imo Burr/Higgy are won't be gone this season. It'd be unnecessary to touch that 2nd line at this point. Agree Richy & Matthias should stay. I honestly think it's Hansen and would make sense if he could fetch us a depth dman. Even if that's not the case, Sestito/Bo/Dorsett alternating games wouldn't be bad either. Assuming Willie gives Bo some games off here and there just to let him grasp the game (Like any good coach would do really), wouldn't mind but I'm going with Hansen being moved.

[ForsbergTheGreat]

imo Burr/Higgy are won't be gone this season. It'd be unnecessary to touch that 2nd line at this point. Agree Richy & Matthias should stay. I honestly think it's Hansen and would make sense if he could fetch us a depth dman. Even if that's not the case, Sestito/Bo/Dorsett alternating games wouldn't be bad either. Assuming Willie gives Bo some games off here and there just to let him grasp the game (Like any good coach would do really), wouldn't mind but I'm going with Hansen being moved.

yeah that's kind of what I think too. He's a bit of an expensive 4th liner (he's getting paid the same as higgins)

[Gaudette Celly]

Hansen, Higgins, and Burrows are excellent complementary players. They are hard workers that can skate, kill penalties very well, move up and down the lineup, and have enough skill to contribute on the scoreboard. Hansen is probably the most replaceable, especially with Kenins showing well so far in Utica. But that being said, having to move someone assumes a fully-healthy roster, which is probably more often not the case. Gives banged up guys a chance to rest as well.

Depends on Bo's development of course, but I can see him working into Richardson's spot on the third line this year, even if just on occasion. He's at least as good on draws, at least as physical, can manage in his own end, and has more offensive upside. Absolutely nothing wrong with Richardson on the fourth line. We all saw this logjam coming in preseason, so JB's likely had several plans in the works for when this day came. Certainly nice for a change to have these sorts of "problems"

[Ossi Vaananen]

Sweet!

Last game the panel talked about the battle for 4C/13th forward is between Horvat and Vey. They both have their upsides, but I'd personally like Horvat over Vey. We need someone who can take faceoffs and shut other teams down. From the Kesler trade we lost the ability to shutdown other teams top lines (Stamkos, Seguin/Benn, Carter come to mind). We need someone who can take on those tough defensive situations, and Horvat is the closest thing we have.

This season, I'd like to see Horvat work his way up to 3C. Richardson is a great tenacious centre, but he lacks offensively; there must have been half a dozen beauty passes from Kass to Richardson that he just wiffed on. Ideally, by mid season I think Matthias - Horvat - Kassian would be an amazing line.

If everyone is still healthy by mid December, I still think Horvat will play in the WJC if only on rental without being sent down (we can do that right?). It'd be good experience for him and a confidence booster to get his offensive game going again.

[shiznak]

Trade Hansen for a defensemen (Franson), now that Hamhuis might be gone for a while.

[nuck nit]

Of course,JB is going to state those things,no matter what he decides upon.

Even if they jettison Sestito after he comes off of IR the team should now find and carry an extra d man.

Not sure how the Hamhuis injury effects Bo's situation but the team has defensive weaknesses that need to be addressed.

[LaBamba]

Before Anaheim send him down.

After Anaheim keep him.

He will earn his ice, that was apparent last game. WD just needed to see what he saw.

[Gaudette Celly]

This season, I'd like to see Horvat work his way up to 3C. Richardson is a great tenacious centre, but he lacks offensively; there must have been half a dozen beauty passes from Kass to Richardson that he just wiffed on. Ideally, by mid season I think Matthias - Horvat - Kassian would be an amazing line.

I just happened to hit "Post" a minute sooner

Yes, Bo between Matthias and Kassian has some real appeal.