Bo Horvat is Unique...

[Buresflyingelbow]

Beauvillier trending toward some big numbers out of that Islanders system. If the Canucks can build up his value he might garner a great return eventually or find his place on the team as a top 6 winger.

Horvat was having a career year and we were not joking playing under a run and gun system.

 

[JayDog16]

Thing is, this wasn't some filler signing. Horvat is a major commitment. He also required major assets to acquire. I'm nervous obviously. I'm glad others see an upside but I don't know. I don't think he's what we needed. He would've been an awesome rental. But we committed to him like he's a franchise player.

Beauvillier trending toward some big numbers out of that Islanders system. If the Canucks can build up his value he might garner a great return eventually or find his place on the team as a top 6 winger.

Horvat was having a career year and we were not joking playing under a run and gun system.

I said right after the trade he was an overlooked part of the deal. There's upside to him.

 

[Buresflyingelbow]

Thing is, this wasn't some filler signing. Horvat is a major commitment. He also required major assets to acquire. I'm nervous obviously. I'm glad others see an upside but I don't know. I don't think he's what we needed. He would've been an awesome rental. But we committed to him like he's a franchise player.


I said right after the trade he was an overlooked part of the deal. There's upside to him.

He had a bar tonight as well where the light went on and a few other grade A chances. He’s been very defensively responsible as well coming from your program. I was sceptical, but it’s only a sample size for both players.

 

[Coffee]

Let’s not start to underrate the guy now.

OP missed one key factor in Horvats game, and that’s the fact that Horvat is a clutch player.

 

[lawrence]

I wish we kept him instead of jt.

 

[CherryToke]

I'd say you have a pretty good read on him already, better than most Canucks fans. I've always seen him as a covert selfish player and all around terrible captain. His low intensity defensive game is beyond frustrating and I've never seen him stick up for teammates, physically or verbally. I'm sorry that you are stuck with him and that terrible contract.. I would much rather it be with the Rangers.

 

[Breakers]

He scored 2 Highlight reel goals in those covid playoffs.

for the next 2 seasons he attempted to toe drag every single player on the ice, and he was useless

He just recently went back to more efficient game off the rush
I think he is very effective off the rush if he lowers his shoulder and uses his big frame
very good at getting shots in close around the crease too

and yes his defensive game is average at best

 

[coolboarder]

Not worth 8.5 million but he is in a right place at a right time to reap the reward with his career year. In fact, I've been calling to trade Horvat for such return in the past but we got him at the highest return possible just weeks ago. Had we traded him in previous years, we might not get this high return but maybe one on one hockey deal for a defence that we needed and was shot down to this idea. That is how Horvat played, more of a frustrating style when we knew that he could dominate but failed to do that until this season. He has always s been a 50-60 points type of players before this. We'll see if he can sustain this new high pace but I honestly doubt that will be the case for one following reason: he is not the type of players to carry the team on his back.. He may be worth 7 to 7.5 m due to his faceoff ability and 50-60 points range. Good luck.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

I think most Canuck fans would say he’s average defensively.

Personally I would have been fine locking him up at $6.5 million for 8 years before this season and walking from Miller. But he got paid based on what looks like a career year.
I wouldn’t be comfortable giving him that contract.

 

[Oddbob]

But not necessarily in a good way.

I don't know if I've ever seen a player like him. His face-off domination is unreal. It seems like he's never going to lose one. His IQ and goal scoring prowess are very high-end. On paper, he looks like a premier player in the league. The guy has also been the captain of a major franchise. Sounds awesome right? And yet his play is so lackluster.

Ever since he's been an Islander I find him underwhelming. If he's not doing any of the things I previously mentioned he looks completely useless. He seems to float a lot. He's certainly not a playmaker. His skating is average at best. His defensive game sucks. And his personality does not match that of a captain. I could go on.

I hate to bash the guy so soon. I'm only bringing this up because of the significance and ramifications of the deal Lou made to get him.

My one question is what other players in history fit this description? I'm curious.

Ever since? You mean the whole 6 games he has already played.

 

[Chips]

He went from one of the better offensive teams to one of the more bleh


People assuming he’d majorly boost the offense, and I mean he could just be on a cold streak, but if he’s really not much of a play maker than a scorer it’s not a surprise if he already drops in production the rest of the season

 

[wonton15]

You’re describing Horvat to a tee. It’s almost a perfect description of what we’ve seen from him since he got drafted. No surprises.

 

[FilHronek Orchestra]

But not necessarily in a good way.

I don't know if I've ever seen a player like him. His face-off domination is unreal. It seems like he's never going to lose one. His IQ and goal scoring prowess are very high-end. On paper, he looks like a premier player in the league. The guy has also been the captain of a major franchise. Sounds awesome right? And yet his play is so lackluster.

Ever since he's been an Islander I find him underwhelming. If he's not doing any of the things I previously mentioned he looks completely useless. He seems to float a lot. He's certainly not a playmaker. His skating is average at best. His defensive game sucks. And his personality does not match that of a captain. I could go on.

I hate to bash the guy so soon. I'm only bringing this up because of the significance and ramifications of the deal Lou made to get him.

My one question is what other players in history fit this description? I'm curious.

Yes.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

He has the ability to step up his game in the playoffs and take control of games

Should've traded for Logan Couture. Worst at faceoffs. but a much better defender, great finisher, playmaker, PP, PK, Captain, and proven playoff performer with something like 50G in 110 playoff games if i recall correctly.

Of course, I'm not so willing to trade my beloved Captain but. oooh is that a first rd pick you got there>?!

 

[kanucks25]

As for defense, he’s average. But that’s hard to judge because the Isles forwards have been inconsistent defensively since two seasons ago.

But I suspect most people have taken Canuck fan’s warning about his defensive game being overrated too much to heart. It’s now swung to far the other way that he’s bad defensively.

He only looks "bad" at times when he's tasked with being the shutdown center, which he isn't suited for. But he always had to play that role for us because we had nobody else that could do it.

Some people don't see the nuance in deployment and just think he's bad in general.

 

[Siludin]

He's a bit like Chris Drury imo

 

[FlowMaster]

Good person, but is a wet noodle leader. Takes many nights off, and is bad defensively and awful on the PK.

But great at tipping pucks in the net and faceoffs. Enjoy 8 years with him.

 

[Wry n Ginger]

Bo is a good NHLer just not worth anywhere near that salary. I hope he does well with the Islanders but the Canucks were right to move him for what they got.

 

[kcunac]

We say his defence is average because he was on the worst defensive team in the league. He did however increase his defensive effort in his contract year. On a good defensive team with a contract not surprised he looks bad.

 

[orcatown]

I'm one Vancouver fan who has been questioning Horvat for years.

To me he is best described as heavy player. This helps in the physical department and makes him rough to move away from the net allowing him to tip pucks. He can also bull rush the puck to the net and ward off people trying to vend him off. Also he has power in the face off circle - he can get low and hold off the other player as he wins the puck. These to me are the his three best qualities - tipping and moving pucks from in close, building up speed and barging to the net and face offs.

The other side of this, however, is that Horvat is far from agile or especially quick. He has very clunky first step and pivots poorly. Often he can't hold his balance and over rotates and ends up spinning around. This makes changes in direction slow and limits his ability to react quickly defensively and limits his coverage. In fact, he is -65 career-wise. (of course some of this due to playing on a team as bad defensively as the Canucks). For some reason he was played on the PK and this has contributed to historically bad numbers for the PK in Vancouver. Horvat, defensively will not get pressure on the puck ever. Plays sort of zone defense and hangs out in the middle of the defensive zone.

The other problem is that he is not particularly good in transition because of his skating issues. Nor is he a play driver although he can make the quick smart pass around the net. But he he is not the type of player that packs the puck around the offensive zone looking to distribute.

He is like a lot of good offensive players who may not skate well, but skate well enough and are smart enough to get to the net and do something with the puck.

Overall, I don't think (and I've argued this for years) he is not a great two way player. But he is strong and good in tight places. If plays in the 2C spot and gets the right match ups, he can produce.

Not that much different in style than a player like Lee.

 

[Hansen]

Just wait until you see what a dog f***er he is in training camp, classic slow starter

But Id still have given him an 8x8 from Vans perspective. Hes an important player to have. His faceoff wins, goal scoring, high drive player. Not a Ryan O’Reilly clone like media wants to believe but hes an excellent complementary 2C

 

[Raistlin]

He can definitely help any team, once he's in playoffs his clutchness will come through. He needs a larger sample size. In your system he's will likely score at around a 60-65 point pace, so yeah he's overpaid.
Fact is, the Islanders need what he offers, what he offers, he offers in spades. So he's worth it in the end warts and all.

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

not as bad as OP sayin' at all.

 

[SI90]

Weird thread. He’s been fine.

 

[HaNotsri]

7 gp 3 goals 4 pts…teams really need to STAY AWAY FROM GIVING OUT THE THIRD CONTRACT!!!

Not if the timeline is longer than the gms remaining lifeline