Bo Horvat | #53 | C

[Rollieo Del Fuego]

Horvat is needed to push Matthias and Richardson and Hansen and Dorsett.

Without Bo those players will relax because Sestito or any call up is not going to threaten their jobs.

We need 14 forwards to keep this thing rolling, Bo has not had a decent chance yet he needs a few games at 10 minutes or more to get going. As it is now he flies at it and his line looks great to start but then sits for forever and can't get back to that level.

Play the Bo please.

Edited November 12, 2014 by Rollieo Del Fuego

[aGENT]

We need 14 forwards to keep this thing rolling, Bo has not had a decent chance yet he needs a few games at 10 minutes or more to get going. As it is now he flies at it and his line looks great to start but then sits for forever and can't get back to that level.

Play the Bo please.

Home games (last change) and having a lead (more than 1 goal) will both help there IMO.

[timberz21]

Bo is playing < 10 minutes with Vrbata and Kassian injured, I don't see how that going to change when they come back. With four games left, he would need at least 3 games with > 10 TOI for the Canucks to really consider keeping him.

Unless management has already decided to keep Bo until december, without caring for the 1st year of his ELC, meaning they would decide on his faith probably after the WJC.

[aGENT]

I wasn't aware either of Vrbata or Kassian were going to slot back in at 4C...

[sameer666]

I feel the reason for the reduced ice time is not directly cause of Bo, but cause of his linemates(Defazio, Jensen etc.), and cause the coach is easing him into his role. Once the team gets healthy, I don't see why he wouldn't be given 10-12 minutes a night. Kesler was able to develop to his potential and beyond this route, so I don't see why Bo can't.

[JohnTavares]

He clearly belongs in the NHL. Sending him back down almost does nothing for his development, it may even go into the negatives if his confidence is broken when he has clearly played well enough but still can't crack the roster.

If he gets sent down, which I'm guessing he will, I will be sorely disappointed in this franchise.

If Bo had 5 points so far, everyone would be pushing to keep him up. However, in a limited 4th line centre role, how will he acquire points? We have to realize for a 19 year old he is playing excellent hockey on the defensive side of things and doesn't seem out of place on the faceoff dot. Injuries will happen, and he will get a better shot later. But rotate him as a 3rd/4th line centre and give him ~12 minutes a night and he's going to gain way more experience than being in the juniors and learning nothing. With his sharp defensive play he will be able to turn that into points if he's not playing with scrubs like Defazio.

Just Horvat's faceoff prowess and strong defensive play already makes him the best option as our 4th line C. I think Vey is much better equipped into a faceoff specialist, playmaking winger role.

Vey-Horvat-Kassian

Matthias-Richardson-Hansen

Dorsett

Something like this will provide us with 4 strong lines that all can play at least ~11 minutes a game and help keep our top guys fresh. For a team who's not good at faceoffs I cannot see why were going to send Horvat down.

[Li'l Fra]

It's a tough question.

The Detroit model would send him down. We're deep with forward vets. While he is useful to us, we don't need him right now.

This is a very critical time in his development. If he goes back to Junior and uses the opportunity to get even better, like some of his peers, it would be the most prudent thing to do.

But

He has shown flashes of offensive prowess already at the NHL level, like the wraparound last night, and maybe he's only a bounce or two away from contributing more consistently.

I'm sure Bo feels that way.

How would he feel if he was sent back to Junior?

As a fan, of course I'd like to see him all year.

What to do?

[Tre Mac]

I say keep him up. He doesn't look out of place and there is gonna be spot open due to injuries thru out the year.

[canuckledraggin]

will horvat's replacement be racking up the points? if not then why would that matter? how about if his replacement will keep up his FO percentage? because if he doesn't then it actually hurts the canucks to send him down.

If I'm Benning I don't burn a year off of his ELC this year. That's the only reason I send him down. His play is not the issue, but with so many young players coming up now, we are going to need those deals in the next few years to be cap compliant.

As for Bo's replacement with the Canucks, the obvious choice is Gaunce. His game is virtually the same as Bo's and I don't see any drop-off from what he brings to the table.

[shoeyj86]

I have been quite impressed by Horvats game in limited minutes so far. While he hasn't been lighting it up offensively, that was and never was to be his game, he has been very solid defensively and for the most part has generated mostly positive play So the fact that a 19 year old can come into the league and play as well as he has is a great thing for this club. Also, at this point and time he is our best option at 4C and for that reason alone will probably stick with the big club.

As for his development, playing huge minutes in the CHL vs playing limited minutes in the show is a great conversation, but the reality is, it seems at this stage of his development, there is so much more for him to gain practicing with pros, playing the pro game, and just being around the guys in a pro capacity. Not to mention If all goes well this season he'll get his first taste of playoff exposure, which is far greater than playing 30 mins a night in the CHL. IMO at least. Also, Bo's game was never highlighted by beautiful highlight real goals, the kid scores get to the dirty areas type goals and has a shot. The offence will come in time, but it will also coincide with more skilled linemates who can create time/space.

One other thing. WHO ABSOLUTELY HATES HANSEN WITH THE SEDINS??? I know I do and would sooner see Burr back on that line, Vey on 2nd and Hansen on the 3rd.

[Chronic.Canuck]

If I'm Benning I don't burn a year off of his ELC this year. That's the only reason I send him down. His play is not the issue, but with so many young players coming up now, we are going to need those deals in the next few years to be cap compliant.

As for Bo's replacement with the Canucks, the obvious choice is Gaunce. His game is virtually the same as Bo's and I don't see any drop-off from what he brings to the table.

I agree with having Bo sent down, but keep him up and drag out the 9 games until it is time for WJC. Let him wear a letter there and then send him to London after the tournament for London's stretch run and playoffs.

As for Gaunce, they do play somewhat similar games but I feel in the long run it will be better for Brendan to spend the full year in the AHL adjusting to pro hockey and developing chemistry with Shinkaruk, Kenins, Jensen etc, so when that next wave of players all make the jump in the next 2 years they will have already spent time playing together and getting to know each other's tendencies.

Just my two cents.

[aGENT]

One other thing. WHO ABSOLUTELY HATES HANSEN WITH THE SEDINS??? I know I do and would sooner see Burr back on that line, Vey on 2nd and Hansen on the 3rd.

So much yes to all of that!

If I'm Benning I don't burn a year off of his ELC this year. That's the only reason I send him down.

How is it "burning a year" if he's ready? People make far too big of a deal out of the 9 games IMO. If he's of value to the team for the remainder of the season it's not a "waste" or "burn".

Edited November 12, 2014 by J.R.

[Dogbyte]

And like I said, if he keeps playing the way he has and/or improving, the offense will come. He's making too many smart defensive plays to transition in the the offensive zone, good passes and going to the net to not contribute offensively.

What luxury of time? He's our best option at 4C. I don't see anything that changes that short of a trade. And frankly all this offense everyone's clamoring for is silly. A 4th line is expected to play well defensively, bring some energy and and be an even (or + if you're lucky) most nights chipping in offense occasionally. Like every~5 games or so. And that may not even lead to points directly to him like the goal he was in front of the net for the other night. He's doing just fine.

I agree. He looks great out there for a 19 year old and he's only going to get better. He might enjoy going back to junior though, he hasn't scored a goal in over 5 months.

If I'm Benning I don't burn a year off of his ELC this year. That's the only reason I send him down. His play is not the issue, but with so many young players coming up now, we are going to need those deals in the next few years to be cap compliant.

As for Bo's replacement with the Canucks, the obvious choice is Gaunce. His game is virtually the same as Bo's and I don't see any drop-off from what he brings to the table.

It's quite possible burning a year off the ELC will benefit us anyway. In 2 years he may be one year away from breaking out offensively and getting a big pay day. Having to renegotiate one year earlier may mean we get a 2 year bridge contract worth far less then if he breaks out in year 3.

Edited November 12, 2014 by Dogbyte

[Guest Dasein]

Speculations among fans will be even worse after he actually plays because perception is subjective and people will judge Bo's performance differently. Since they can all say that their opinion is based on seeing him play, it's going to get even uglier.

I speculated that the speculations will increase after Bo played

[CanuckinEdm]

While we have injuries there is no problem with keeping him up and if I goes beyond 9 games oh well its a year of his ELC not his RFA age which I believe is changed after playing 30 games if they start sitting him then that is a different story. I would rather him practicing, training and playing 9-10 mins a game in the NHL then playing an extra 10-15 mins a game in Jr where every team might have 2-3 NHL type players.

[snizzle_]

No one denies he's sound defensively and he can check with the best of them, but we don't want to develop a 3rd line grinder; if that's all he becomes when he's fully developed then so be it, we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

The reason why the detroit model works, is that at every level a player plays, they maximize their offensive capabilities. In other words, they never lose their offensive mind set for too long. That's why the AHL has been such a great stepping stone for offensive stars in the NHL, because while they get accustomed to the pro style they don't lose their touch for scoring.

What many teams have done with top picks over the years is even if the player is NHL ready, they may not be point producing NHL ready. Isn't that the ultimate goal with top picks? To have them being point producers? If they end up being grinders and heart players in the end then that's fine but you don't set out to develop a 3rd line player with a top 10 pick. Teams like Florida, Columbus and others have done this; while their prospects may have been physically and mentally ready to "stick" with the big club, they didn't help offensively and they eventually lose that touch for scoring.

I feel like its more common than people think for a player to almost "forget" how to score. It sounds silly, I'm sure but how many players careers, top picks, have had their careers not pan out because they were rushed.

Unless a player breaks down the door with offence, it's always safer to slowly ease them into big leagues so that they can maintain that confidence and scoring touch that made them a top pick to begin with.

Edited November 12, 2014 by junglesniper

[stexx]

i wonder if benning isnt so concerned with the 9game mark and burning a year off his ELC as he is about the 40game mark and burning a year off his UFA eligibility. I think that date may be the real deadline for Bo.

[VegasCanuck]

He doesn't look out of place. If he can get 10 min a night in Vancouver, and he can maintain his FO percentage, I'm guessing that he's here to stay!

[Guest Dasein]

i wonder if benning isnt so concerned with the 9game mark and burning a year off his ELC as he is about the 40game mark and burning a year off his UFA eligibility. I think that date may be the real deadline for Bo.

While it's a nice theory that brings in a new angle, I don't think Benning gives a damn about Bo's UFA eligibility.

If you keep a kid around for 40 games, he's good enough to play in the NHL. There's no way Benning sends him down if that's the case. The 9 game mark is what it comes down to.

[FlyLow_]

I thought he had a couple real nice games then didn't get to play last night. It's too bad, I think in a game where the team is blowing leads 3 different times purely because of poor defensive coverage or giveaways a guy like Bo could have shown what he can bring to the team if he was given an opportunity.