Breaking news: Bo Horvat debunks "losing on purpose" conspiracy theories

[ImConfused]

Bo Knows the TRUTH

 

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Horvat denies that Canucks' poor start based on departures

Captain says losing teammates 'doesn't mean we are trying to play bad'

This has to be one of the most LOL articles/headlines I've seen on NHL.com in quite a while

 

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VANCOUVER -- Bo Horvat refuted the idea the Vancouver Canucks are playing badly because players are upset they lost some key teammates this offseason.

"I don't believe that," the Canucks captain said Wednesday. "Obviously it is tough to see guys go, but at the same time you've got to move on and play for the team you are playing for. You can't dwell on anything, and we have a great group of guys here and a lot of good hockey players and because we lost guys doesn't mean we are trying to play bad.

 

"We all want to win here, and we all want to do well, so I don't think that's a theory at all."

 

Vancouver (6-10-0) has lost five straight games. The Canucks are sixth in the Scotia North Division, 30th in the NHL in goals against per game (3.94), last in shots against per game (34.7), and look nothing like the team that lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in seven games in the Western Conference Second Round last season, one game from advancing to the conference final.

 

Goalie Jacob Markstrom (Calgary Flames), defensemen Christopher Tanev (Flames) and Troy Stecher (Detroit Red Wings), and forward Tyler Toffoli (Montreal Canadiens) each left Vancouver as a free agent this offseason.

 

"We lost some pretty good players last year, so we're trying to figure it out together," Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes said after a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.

 

Hughes' comment, combined with Markstrom defeating the Canucks twice this season and Toffoli scoring eight of his nine goals in five games against Vancouver, has some wondering if the players remain upset about those departures.

 

"I can shut that down," Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko said. "I don't think anyone is holding that against management or coaches. Guys know that the business side of things is going to happen sometimes and guys are going to leave, get traded, sign somewhere else, what have you, and guys are well aware of that and they know you've got to move on and focus on the task at hand."

 

Vancouver signed goalie Braden Holtby to a two-year contract Oct. 9, acquired defenseman Nate Schmidt in a trade with Vegas on Oct. 12, and signed defenseman Travis Hamonic to a one-year contact on the eve of the season.

 

Hughes has scored 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) this season, tied for fifth in the NHL and five more than all but one other defenseman (Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens, 14 points).

 

"For Quinn, he was really tight with [Tanev] off the ice and stuff, so I can see why that one hit a little bit harder," Horvat said. "But the guys that we brought in and the guys in this room are great hockey players, and it takes a little time with new guys in a regular year, and we have to remember this is not a regular year. It's going to take some time."

 

The Canucks played 16 games in 27 days after opening the season Jan. 13. Three of their six wins are against the Ottawa Senators, who are 2-11-1.

Coach Travis Green's contract expires after this season (his fourth), and Horvat also pushed back against the idea that Green not having an extension in place is a cause for their poor play.

 

"That makes no difference to us," Horvat said. "We all really like 'Greener' as a coach, and he's done a heck of a job with our group. Obviously we'd love to see him stay and be a part of the Vancouver Canucks, but at the same time [we] have to worry about winning hockey games."

Just wow

Edited February 11, 2021 by ImConfused

[Chris12345]

No one loses on purpose. They might play disinterested but once you get hit you want blood.

[Coconuts]

[Dumb Nuck]

You don’t get to be a NHL caliber player by having ever even considering throwing games, the compete level required is so high that I would never buy into an actual purposeful tanking theory.

Edited February 11, 2021 by Dumb Nuck

[the grinder]

2 minutes ago, Dumb Nuck said:

You don’t get to be a NHL caliber player by having ever even considering throwing games, the compete level required is so high that I would never buy into an actual purposeful tanking theory.

 so thats why the oilers suck so much   , all that tanking

[canuktravella]

the players arent tanking games intentional but their playing system isnt any good so we constantly get out shot  and  the defense way to open  so teams are burying us  until the coaches get changed we wont be winning more than losing 

[ImConfused]

5 minutes ago, canuktravella said:

the players arent tanking games intentional but their playing system isnt any good so we constantly get out shot  and  the defense way to open  so teams are burying us  until the coaches get changed we wont be winning more than losing 

I see that you voted no lol

[Devron]

I voted no by accident. Haha.

[luckylager]

Playing like crap on purpose eh..

We're talking about professional hockey players and not a bunch of spoiled teenagers, right?

[Roger Neilsons Towel]

2 minutes ago, Devron44 said:

I voted no by accident. Haha.

[aGENT]

I'd like to vote "potatoes".

 

 

 

 

[Roger Neilsons Towel]

Media: Are you playing badly on purpose?

 

Bo Horvat:

 

[shiznak]

Even if they were losing on purpose. No one is going to admit it, especially to the media.

[igorwasgreat]

Chemistry is fickle

[EdgarM]

They may not be "trying to play bad" but they sure aren't giving 110% every night either. Holtby's stare down to Miller paints a pretty clear picture.

[Patel Bure]

56 minutes ago, Chris12345 said:

No one loses on purpose. They might play disinterested but once you get hit you want blood.

The Canucks aren’t playing disinterested.  They are playing in a very tough division (sans Ottawa) and had a difficult schedule to begin the season in which practice time was limited.  
 

The guys perpetuating this “Canucks are disinterested due to losing players,” myth are the wankers over at the athletic along with some other “media rats” in our city (Thomas Drance, JD Burke, $&!#iar Shah, etc.).   
 

HF Canucks takes what these guys say at gospel and then perpetuate their toxicity on social media.

[Patel Bure]

Just now, EdgarM said:

They may not be "trying to play bad" but they sure aren't giving 110% every night either. Holtby's stare down to Miller paints a pretty clear picture.

Miller had Covid and didn’t have a full training camp if I recall correctly.   It’s entirely possible that Miller has lingering effects from both of those factors.   Despite his brain farts on defense this season, his PPG pace is still on par with his production from last year.   
 

16 games have been played and 8 of those were against two teams that are very likely top 8 calibre teams in the league.   The other 3 games was against the Sens whom we easily dismantled.   The other 5 games was against middle of the road teams in Calgary, Winnipeg, and Edmonton (whom we are 2-3 against).    
 

Let’s see a bigger sample size against Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg before jumping to any conclusions.   These next four games against Calgary should be very revealing in terms of where we are really at.

[Elias Pettersson]

But the sports guys on the radio who are all smart and have big time connections told me that you aren't trying BO.  They told me that you are mad and are sucking on purpose.  Should I believe them or you?  Such a tough decision to make really...

[24K PureCool]

Lol, like any player would admit it.

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

These players have such pride, to suggest they lose on purpose is insulting.

 

They have spent years training and dedicating their lives to this sport, they are all playing for jobs. They lose, changes will come, and likely someone else can come in and steal their spot in the lineup as they all know how cruel this business is.

 

The Canucks media are dumb and straight up ridiculous.