JamesB Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Horvat had another good game against San Jose tonight (Saturday), scoring the game-tying goal and playing shutdown at crucial times. Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but he could be a potential Selke candidate. And he does look destined to take Kesler's role on the Canucks. But he looks like an upgrade on Kesler (Maybe not right now, but in terms of overall career trajectory). Bo is 19 and is having a very good year, with 10 goals already. Kesler played for a while with the Canucks at age 19, picking up 2 goals and 3 assists in 28 games. He had his first fulll season with the Canucks at age 21, when he scored 10 goals in 82 games (along with 13 assists, for 23 pts). He did not have his breakthrough year until age 23, when he scored 21 goals and had 16 assists for 37 pts. So Bo is significantly ahead in his development so far. Kesler is physically strong, but Bo is stronger, Kesler is very good in the face-off circle but, based on how well he is doing so far, Bo should be better. Kesler is an excellent shutdown centre. Bo is already playing shutdown against top centers and doing well. He looks like a potential world class shut down guy. Kesler is very good on the PK. Bo has recently been given PK time and, for a 19 year-old, he is exceptionally good. Kesler is a good shooter. Bo is better at this stage of his career than Kesler was. And Bo is a better passer. Kesler contributes to the physical game. So does Bo, and he takes far fewer penalties. Kesler is a very good skater who contributes to the speed game. This should be an advantage for Kesler but Bo was always a good skater and seems to have improved in the past year. He can also contribute to the speed game. Key differences are: 1. Bo makes anyone he plays with better. Various guys do "surprisingly well" with Bo. This applies to Kenins, Dorsett, Hansen, and others. Kesler made guys he played with worse. 2. Bo is a great guy, Modest, popular with fans and teammates and a great guy to have around. Kesler is basically an a**h****. Bottom line. It is still early, but Bo looks to be a more valuable player than Kesler. With normal development I see him as a better player within two years and a legitimate Selke candidate down the road. So I see his ceiling as a world class 2C. I think we are still looking for high end offensive talent for 1C to replace Henrik but I do not see that person in the system yet. McCann, like Horvat, is more of a two-way center who could be a world class 3C (although it is much too early to have any confidence). I know people will hate this comment but I wonder if the Canucks maybe should have taken Nylander instead of Virtanen in the 2014 draft, although Virtanen is a very good prospect. But Nylander is doing surprisingly well in the AHL for an 18 year-old. Maybe the Canucks will draft Barzal this year. If so, then I will be much happier with Virtanen pick, as Virtanen brings an unsually combination of skill, speed, toughness and intensity to the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gross-Misconduct Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Why cant we just let Bo be Bo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken. Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 So many what if's.. I'll take Horvat over the long-term all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuongo Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 This is starting to get ridiculous. I swear one more good game and you all are going to say he should be an Art Ross contender. Just let the rookie to his thing and stop putting such high expectations on him. His day will come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Barzal Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I'm almost certain Horvat will have the better career but, I think we're selling Kesler a little short with how much he accomplished with the garbage wingers he had. He's also a much more physically INTIMIDATING guy. Bo can throw his weight around to win battles, but I don't think he'll ever have the 17 train imposition on opposing defenders. Kesler was never going to win this one, Horvat has the better accomplishments, the better draft pedigree, and a much higher hockey IQ (hence 9th overall). Kesler became more than we expected of him, and I'm thankful for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabatoge95 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Why cant we just let Bo be Bo? This. Let him create his own legacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinphase Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Bo hasn't played enough games to be considered a better passer, face-off guy etc for me. The thing that puts Bo above Kesler for me right now is that he seems less emotional. Kesler's quite good at using his body and positioning to split D. Bo hasn't shown this yet, but maybe with time and confidence it'll come. As for McCann, I've seen him play a couple times now, and he has some quick hands and awesome hockey sense. I wouldn't discount him into a 3C role just yet. I think he has 1C, Patrice Bergeron type potential. He's actually the prospect I'm most excited about right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickly Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I hate the comparison game. If anything I see a lot of Bergeron in Bo. Doesn't play overly physical if at all but is so sound defensively, wins draws, and has untapped offensive potential. I can see him developing into a top notch 2 way 2/3 center who can play in all situations and max out around 60 pts a year. Time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 This is starting to get ridiculous. I swear one more good game and you all are going to say he should be an Art Ross contender. Just let the rookie to his thing and stop putting such high expectations on him. His day will come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FijianCanuck Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Another Bo thread? Let the kid play and we will see what the future holds. I don't wanna jinx the guy but he's looking like a true leader with his play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Bo will almost certainly be slower and have a worse shot than Kess. Also, it should be noted that Bo's corsi is among the worst on the team. It will surely improve with time, but as of now, his defense isn't as good as it is made out to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavel.10.Bure Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Bo hasn't played enough games to be considered a better passer, face-off guy etc for me. The thing that puts Bo above Kesler for me right now is that he seems less emotional. Kesler's quite good at using his body and positioning to split D. Bo hasn't shown this yet, but maybe with time and confidence it'll come. As for McCann, I've seen him play a couple times now, and he has some quick hands and awesome hockey sense. I wouldn't discount him into a 3C role just yet. I think he has 1C, Patrice Bergeron type potential. He's actually the prospect I'm most excited about right now. Did you see his face when he got picked in the 20's? That's a face that says, I'm supposed to be top 10 B**c**s, and i'll show you. I'm very excited over Virtanen, Mccan, Sven, Subban, Demko, Tryamkin and Shinkaruk. Not so much with Gaunce/Jensen. But I do hope they prove me wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFirstLine Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 JamesB and Buzzsaw threads post games are the best. No matter what game it is they will surely find something to make a thread about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scratchmb Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Once again, the hopes of Canuck fans are on their sleeves. Vancouver wants desparately to have a nexus of a star to build around. They want someone whom they drafted in the first round. They want him to be supported by the owners, the management, and the team. They fear in the back of their minds that it will become another Cam Neely debacle. They don't want a flash in the pan. Bowie William Horvat could very well possibly be that glimmer Vancouver craves. Yes, we had stalwart heroes in the past such as Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl who were brilliant tacticians and captains of the team and that has not gone unrewared as they are both very much part of what the Vancouver Canucks are all about. We must give credit to ownership who are firm believers in the integrity of the Vancouver Canucks. Of course we did have at one time the most exiting player to hit the NHL, Pavel Bure. Yet, there were two problems. First being that Pavel was not so much of a team player, yes, he worked with the team, but he was ahead of his time, and because of that, the second problem, Mr. Bure was not managed properly. There were bitter emotions that we all would like to forget. The fans loved the Russian Rocket, but the system at the time did not jive. It is far superior these days, and if the same situation fell in their laps today, it would not be a repeated mistake. Bo Horvat shows the mature promise that we first saw in a young Trevor Linden. But Vancouver must be patient, both the organization and the fans must give him the latitude and moral support to cause this young man to see the vision of the future of the Vancouver Canucks. Bo Horvat has the tools, he sees the ice well, he has game wisdom, he is a thinker, he has a tireless work ethic, and he is driven to keep improving. Vancouver needs him to love Vancouver as Trevor Linden loves Vancouver. If Vancouver gets that, there will be the pinnacle to build a team around. The hunger for the Stanley Cup will be sated. By only a miracle will it happen this year, but it doesn't bother me, because the Vancouvers Canucks are gaining momentum, it is already becoming a team that other NHL players actually wish to be there. Such players know it's coming and would gladly accept being traded to there, or picked up as a free agent, or even drafted by the Vancouver Canucks. The storm is coming, we can feel it. Vancouver is about to become the tsunami of hockey. I am not wrong. Oh, Ryan Kesler? Don't get me wrong, he was one of the hardest working players Vancouver ever had, and he did want to win there, his heart just was never in Vancouver, or even Canada for that matter. Don't blame him, it's just the way he is, self centered and egotistic, but that is what makes Ryan Kesler the hockey player he is. He doesn't love anyone except himself but it worked for him on and off the ice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Sparkle Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Another Bo thread? Let the kid play and we will see what the future holds. I don't wanna jinx the guy but he's looking like a true leader with his play. his play and how he conducts himself on the ice. we're lookin at a kid who knows the score, being a rookie in the league; shut up, play, and don't ever say anything to the refs kes as a rookie had a real chip on his shoulder and got treated accordingly around the league-- like trash. horvat's taking the smart route and just bust his ass out there and slowly start to earn respect, and not feel entitled to it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeye Fruit Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I like what I see in Bo so far, but he has a long, long way to go to be anywhere close to the player Kes is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiznak Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 his play and how he conducts himself on the ice. we're lookin at a kid who knows the score, being a rookie in the league; shut up, play, and don't ever say anything to the refs kes as a rookie had a real chip on his shoulder and got treated accordingly around the league-- like trash. horvat's taking the smart route and just bust his ass out there and slowly start to earn respect, and not feel entitled to it I think the best way of describing it is.....Bo is a grown man, in a kid's body. While Kesler was/is a baby, in a man's body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John.Tallhouse Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Tell Kelly Bo said hi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucktican Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makaramel MacKhiato Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Don't forget what Kesler accomplished apart from his rookie campaign, 41 goals in 2010-11, 75 points in 2009-19 (both on the 2nd line with bad wingers). Remember when he absolutely dominated the Nashville Predators in the playoffs? Or Scored that game-tying goal late in game 5 against San Jose to put us into the cup finals? Remember when he did this with a bummed shoulder? Ryan Kesler was arguably the most popular Canuck when he was here, we forget how much fans loved him because he asked for a trade. We need to remember, all this guy ever wants to do is win, and with his age, he realized he could never get a cup with the Canucks (as he believed they were heading into a rebuild). So what did the guy do? Go to a place to win. Everyone hates Kesler right now, because we all loved the guy and he left the team. This guy was the whole package, great hockey player, trophy winner, entertaining both on the ice and off (photobombs), and a supermodel. Give him some credit. We all are praying the Horvat can have the career Kesler had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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