By Adam Schouten

The 2019/2020 NHL pre-season is behind us, meaning the regular season is forthcoming. With it comes the Canucks’ 50th. The city of Vancouver is buzzing with excitement in anticipation of seeing new jerseys, new numbers hanging from the rafters, new faces in the ring of honor, and most importantly a new and improved team.

The offseason brought us free agent signings, draft picks and trades, with them a slough of new faces.

This article will outline some of the factors that will contribute to the Canucks’ improved success this season. It will not be debating the value of the team’s acquisitions in comparison to what was put out in return, it will simply give insight as to what these players can bring to the table in terms of the team’s improvement.

The July free agency period was preceeded with much speculation by Canucks fans as to what moves GM Jim Benning would make, and much of it was negative. From the market Jim acquired a couple big fish in Defenseman Tyler Myers and Winger Michael Ferland. Benning also added Tampa Bay’s J.T. Miller via trade at the draft.

A lot of the draw in Tyler Myers’ game surrounds his impressive 6’7″ stature, the 2nd tallest in the NHL. The Kelowna native is an imposing force on the ice in terms of physicality, but there has been some concern raised about his skill set overall.

Many Canucks fans have scrutinized Myers’ play in general, however he has proven that he can be an impact player at the NHL level when he is on his game.

The pre-season does not tell all, but it did prove that Tyler is not afraid to get his nose dirty by laying big hits and mixing things up after the whistle.

It is no secret that the Canucks have been lacking some grit in recent years. The team saw glimpses of hard-nosed hockey from newly acquired winger Antoine Roussel last season, and this display quickly propelled him to become an instant fan favourite.

Myers is sure to bring some stature to the defense core that is expected to be headlined by the 5’10” rookie Quinn Hughes.

The addition of Michael Ferland will also be a major boost in the grit department. Ferland’s ‘rough n tough’ style is expected to bode well with the talent of Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser on the first line.

Looking at successful first lines throughout history, adding a bit of toughness on the wing usually helps. This is especially true come playoff time, which the Canucks are most likely not too far away from.

Ferland is well known as an agitator, but also has a scoring touch, racking up 21 and 17 goals in his last two seasons respectively. He has been described by Canucks enthusiasts as ‘what Jake Virtanen was supposed to be’.

It is likely clear to Ferland that a large part of his role on this team is to stick up for younger stars such as Pettersson. Having a physical presence on the ice with him will help the sophomore avoid injuries due to incidents like last year’s vicious attack from Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson.

It came as a bit of a shock to many fans when Jim Benning pulled the trigger on a deal to send a first round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Forward J.T. Miller at the draft last June. Miller does have alot to offer offensively, and his game is comparable to that of Bo Horvat.

Miller should fit in just fine with Horvat and Tanner Pearson, the pair that displayed some major chemistry toward the end of last season. The Ohio native collected 47 points in 75 games with Tampa Bay in 2018/19.

Much like Horvat, Miller is a proven well-rounded player who’s game remains strong at both ends of the ice. His Versatility is a desired trait on this team, as he will be able to play wing alongside Horvat or jump in to take a draw when need be.

Miller’s style of play could be quite complimentary alongside Horvat and Pearson, and his presence could solidify a quite prolific top six forward group.

Though many fans are skeptical that the Canucks’ offseason acquisitions will reach the value of what the team paid for them, there is no question that they will bring instant improvement to the playoff-hungry group. These players might just be what it takes to bolster the squad into serious postseason contention.

The NHL Entry Draft is an exciting time for lower tier teams in the National Hockey League. It has been an annual event to look forward to for fans of the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks for a number of years now. The anticipation was heightened heading into this Draft especially, due to the fact that it was to be held on home soil.

The 2019 Draft was preceded by an outrageous amount of speculation and rumours about whether or not the Canucks management would decide to hold onto their pick at #10, or make a push to move either up or down in the order.

General Manager Jim Benning has been under the microscope and facing plenty of scrutiny, some of it seemingly unjustified, from the Vancouver fanbase as of late. Tensions are high around this team that has faced many struggles in recent years, and everyone is looking to hold somebody accountable.

Though his Tenure with the Canucks up to this point has been more or less mediocre, Jim Benning has certainly proven his work at the Draft table to be an evident strong suit. His top acquisitions have included Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, and Quinn Hughes, all of which make a strong case to be selected higher in a redraft.

This year’s first round was no different. Though it was stated that the Canucks management had a deal in place to trade up in the draft, Benning opted to stay at #10 and select Russian Right Winger Vasili Podkolzin from the KHL.

Podkolzin is an imposing force standing at a hefty 6’1″, 196 lbs. He is described as being a power forward that can bulldoze through defensemen on his way to the net. Vasili certainly plays with an Edge, but the most impressive thing about him is the fact that he blends his sense of physicality with elite talent and hockey IQ.

Podkolzin is an impressive 2 way forward that plays to an equal standard at both ends of the ice. As an underage player at the World Junior Championships, he was a key component of the penalty kill and was also thrown onto the ice in almost every key situation, including the dying minutes of the game.

Getting to the net is no problem for Vasili, as he uses his intimidating frame to power down the ice at high speeds while protecting the puck from all angles with his body. Getting to the net is great, but the display doesn’t stop there. Podkolzin has a combination of deadly aim and power with his wrist shot, this is visible in highlights from both the KHL and world tournaments.

Podkolzin is an elite prospect, but also a perfect fit for one of the biggest holes in the Canucks puzzle. The team is thriving with young talent, but it takes more than that to be a successful playoff team in this league.

Come playoff time, the game always reverts back to its roots of tough, aggressive hockey. That description is the definition of Vasili Podkolzin’s game. He will provide notable contributions to the scoresheet, as well as match whatever physicality other teams can throw at the Canucks. This is not to say he will completely repair this lacking department of the team, but his presence will certainly help.

Podkolzin has such an outstanding resume, so why did the first nine teams to pick pass up on him? The answer is he still has two years left on his contract with St. Petersburg of the KHL, meaning he won’t be NHL ready for at least two years. Jim Benning doesn’t have a problem with this, explaining that the other options of interest at pick #10 would have needed at least 2 more years of development anyway.

There has been chatter that the team that selected Podkolzin may be able to negotiate with the Russian Club and bring him to North America earlier, but those chances are slim.

Only time will tell, but the future looks very bright for Vasili Podkolzin and the team that drafted him. The selection was met with great surprise at the Draft, but when he’s ready the Russian will be welcomed to this city with open arms. Welcome to the Army, Vasili.

As we draw closer to the end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL gets set to host two annual offseason events: the Entry Draft, and the NHL Awards.

While the people of Vancouver are excited to see the Draft at home this year, one particular component of the Awards ceremony is keeping the city anxiously awaiting the outcome.

The Calder Memorial Trophy is an award presented to “The player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL”. In other words, the rookie of the year.

The three nominees for this year’s Calder award are Sabres Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, Blues Goaltender Jordan Binnington, and Canucks Centerman Elias Pettersson.

Pettersson has been considered to be the leader in the category for the better part of the 2018/19 season, however his dominance has come into question with the outstanding entrance of Jordan Binnington in the last half of the campaign.

Let’s break down the nominees one at a time.
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Rasmus Dahlin

At only 19 years of age, Dahlin already looks like a seasoned veteran. He is calm, cool and collected, and has already earned himself a top spot on a mediocre Buffalo roster.

Much of Dahlin’s strong performance went unspoken for in the mainstream media this year, shadowed by the campaign of fellow Swede and former teammate Elias Pettersson. As a Defenseman, it is natural to not get quite as much attention as a prolific scoring forward.

Dahlin was solid defensively, but also made his mark on the scoresheet with 44 points in a full season played. He was -13 on the season, but you must take into account the success of the team he played for, which was for the most part lacking in Buffalo.

Jordan Binnington

In January, the St. Louis Blues were dead last in the NHL standings. Nobody even considered the possibility of playoffs returning to Missouri. It was around that time that Goaltender Jordan Binnington came bursting onto the scene.

Binnington changed the dynamic of the team, and ended up leading them to a playoff position after all. He snagged 24 wins and only 6 losses, also posting an impressive .927 save percentage.

The rookie goalie was stellar through his short rookie campaign, but the campaign was just that, short. Binnington played only 32 games, which is quite a small sample size to be considered the best rookie in the league. Goalies go on extreme hot streaks all the time, but playing a full season at that calibre is an entirely different situation.

Another hindrance on Binnington’s said calder eligibility is his age. He is 25 years old, 5 years older than opposing candidate Elias Pettersson, and 6 years older than Rasmus Dahlin. That casts a bit of a shadow over the word ‘rookie’.

Elias Pettersson

Elias Pettersson is the best NHL rookie since Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Need I say more than that? He began his tenure on October 3rd, and since that very day has done nothing but shatter expectations.

Elias set canucks records galore, the most notable one being the team’s rookie scoring record, previously held by a little someone by the name of The Russian Rocket. That’s right. Since the early 2000’s, Vancouver fans have felt that they had missed out on the maximum potential of Pavel Bure due to a career cut short, but now we have someone who is on pace to be even better.

Pettersson’s game is defined by elite playmaking, dekeing, skating, and shooting. As well rounded as well rounded players get, Elias shines in all aspects of the game, offensively and defensively.

His outstanding natural talent has earned him the nickname The Alien in Vancouver on account of the out-of-this-world display he brings on a nightly basis. This is most impressive, however a certain trait belonging to Elias that sometimes flies under the radar is his sheer will and determination to be the best player he can possibly become.

Pettersson puts every ioda of energy and effort into every single shift. He visibly gets extremely upset with himself for the slightest mistakes, always wanting to improve in any way he can. Pettersson is always first on the ice and last off in practice. It is qualities like this that forge superstars.
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Out of the three nominees, there emerges a clear dominant figure. Elias Pettersson simply stands out over Rasmus Dahlin, and takes the cake over a 25 year old Binnington who hasn’t done much more than dip his toe into the monster that is the 82 game NHL season.

Elias’ rookie season out performed that of the majority of current NHL stars. To gain full appreciation of his abilities, you need to have watched most, if not all of the Canucks games this past season. Dynamic at both ends of the ice, Pettersson puts just as much emphasis into his checking as he does when given offensive opportunities. That is the makeup of a franchise player.

The Best players make the players around them better. Elias does just that. He makes his entire team better. In a very short period of time, Elias Pettersson transformed himself from a draft pick questioned by many, to the face of a franchise. That is why he deserves to win the Calder Trophy, and why he will.

By Adam Schouten

For some odd reason there are people in Vancouver that disagree with the idea of the Canucks Signing Columbus Blue Jackets’ winger Artemi Panarin this offseason.

Crazy, right?

Well, what else to do than break down every single reason why we NEED to see the Breadman in blue and Green next season.

Firstly, Let’s adress the elephant in the room. Panarin is insane. He notched 87 points in 79 games played this season. For reference, that landed him at 18th in the NHL in the ‘Points Per Game’ category, ahead of names like Alex Ovechkin, Auston Matthews, Evgeny Malkin and other hockey greats. Panarin is an elite offensive contributor.

Artemi is a very quick, shifty player. He has great foot speed that allows him to drastically accelerate and sneak into a puck retrieving position, or blow by defenders as he weaves through traffic. He is super swift with his stick, separating his checking abilities from most others on the ice. The Russian wins nearly every puck battle he finds himself in.

Panarin is not just a playmaker, but an offensive generator. When he finds himself on a line with players who understand the game and read the ice on his level, the result can be deadly.

He has been performing alongside a fairly deep Columbus roster in recent years, but he has yet to find that special linemate that clicks with him on another level. Elias Pettersson could undoubtedly be that guy.

An instinctual playmaker and dangerous finisher, Elias’ style of play is a match made in heaven with that of Artemi’s. Everyone was blown away by Pettersson’s passing ability this past season, just imagine the wizardry TWO playmakers of that caliber could drum up in the coming years!

So Panarin would obviously be a great fit on this young Canucks team, but does he have any interest in moving to the west coast?

TSN’s Bob McKenzie believes so. The insider stated just before the trade deadline that Vancouver and Toronto are the only two canadian cities that appeal to Panarin. He called Canada a “no fly zone” for the most part, but said that Vancouver is one of two exceptions.

Quick side note, Panarin did tag himself as being in Vancouver on a social media story during the regular season, do with that information what you will.

Let’s assume that there is significant interest from the Panarin camp. He could be ours, but at what cost? It will certainly be a handsome upgrade from his current cap hit of $6 million.

The Canucks have plenty of cap space to work with at the moment, but they must be weary of the eventual required signings of Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes in a few years’ time, not to mention Brock Boeser this offseason.

We will be relieved of Loui Eriksson’s monstrosity of a contract in three years, that is unless Jim Benning can work some angles and somehow find a way to get him off the roster even sooner.

An expected discount to Alex Edler’s approximate $6 million salary should also prevail from negotiations of the defenseman’s new contract this offseason. The Canucks have unqualified the contracts of Derrick Pouliot and Brendan Gaunce as well, saving a bit of cash.

If Jim Benning does decide to go the Panarin route, it will surely tighten the cap situation up in Vancouver, but won’t squeeze any key pieces off the roster in the foreseeable future. All top teams are in a constant battle with the salary cap, that it just a fact of life.

Panarin is only 27 years of age, and it seems as though he is only now hitting his prime. This is good. Providing he stays relatively healthy, there will be an impressive Russian display on the left wing for many years to come.

The people of Vancouver are extremely hesitant to wish for the signing of large contracts in free agency, and most of that likely stems from the deep wound inflicted by the Loui Eriksson situation. It is a very cautious time for this team, and it is critical that the right decisions are made to positively affect the future.

With that being said, we are nowhere near strong enough to compete for the Stanley Cup, and we won’t be for years if we don’t put some major work into this lineup. The core 4 is strong, but not enough. Strong teams take strong players, and Artemi Panarin exceeds in that category. The timing is right, everything is right, go get him, Jim.

By Adam Schouten

It’s safe to say that drafting has been the best attribute of GM Jim Benning’s tenure with the Canucks.

Jim and his team pulled off highway robbery taking Brock Boeser at 23rd overall in the 2015 draft, Not to mention Elias Pettersson at 5th in 2017.

Quinn Hughes is already looking like he could have gone earlier in this past draft as well. Our later round picks haven’t been half bad either, with names like Mikey Dipietro, Adam Gaudette, and Tyler Madden among others in the mix.

Another disappointing lottery left us with the 10th overall pick in June of this year. The good news is that this draft appears to be quite deep through the first and second round.

The top two picks are seemingly solidified in Jack Hughes and Kappo Kakko, as well as players to be selected in the three to five range, but the names that will be available at ten could really range based on what style of player the teams before us are looking for.

A major topic of discussion in Vancouver has been the outstanding breakout defenceman Bowen Byram. The kid from Cranbrook notched a notable 71 points in 67 regular season games with the Vancouver Giants this season.

There has been plenty of talk about the possibility of Byram being selected either 3rd or 4th overall in June, right after Hughes and Kakko.

Jim Benning has publicly shown interest in the young defender during the latter half of this season, attending a few Giants games himself. After all, the Canucks could definately use a boost in the defensive prospect pool. After Quinn Hughes and a questionable Olli Joulevi, the potential drastically decreases.

So do we keep our #10 pick and have faith that our drafting crew will somehow follow their pattern of picking an unexpected star, or does Jim put his best offer in for a potential shot at an elite prospect like Bowen Byram? Let’s look at some potential options.

First of all, it goes without saying that Benning will be trading none of Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes or Bo Horvat. If the objective is to strike a deal, those names would have to be worked around.

Of course the package would include the first round pick we have now, and it could possibly be paired with a high range prospect, and/or a mid tier player.

Ben Hutton has been a popular topic of trade discussion as of late, and he does bring a bit of value to the table. An issue with trading a guy like Hutton is the fact that he could come into play as a depth defenseman when the Canucks become a competitive team. On the other hand, players of that style can often be found short term in early free agency heading into the playoffs.

Looking at forwards, I believe there is one player that could be a good fit somewhere in the package deal, and his name Is Jake Virtanen. Though Jake has still yet to fully prove himself as the player we know he can be, he may draw attention from other teams as a speedy offensive winger that still has potential to become a regular on the scoresheet.

Many people on twitter have mentioned the possibility of trading one of either Thatcher Demko or Mikey Dipietro at some point. That is a big No.

We want our team to be one that does not just have a successful stint, but is competitive for years to come. Our goalie situation is in a comfortable place right now.

Jacob Markstrom is beginning to hit his prime, but at 29 years old he is not getting any younger. Having 2 young, high-potential goalies to follow in his footsteps should secure a well-covered crease for an extensive period of time.

As far as prospects go, if the Definite plan of attack is to acquire a higher pick and select a defenseman, Olli Joulevi could fit into the deal. Though he has yet to crack the league at 21 years of age, his potential does have a significant upside.

So let’s say the tenth overall pick, Jake Virtanen and Olli Joulevi in exchange for either pick number three or four. Is that an acceptable offer for a player of Byram’s Caliber?

The only thing for certain is everyone in Vancouver will be waiting to hear Gary Bettman’s trademark “We have a trade to announce” line on June 21st.

Jim Benning has always seemed to be quite content trying to land the best player available with whichever number he ends up with up with in the draft, but he clearly does have options for sending a package deal out in exchange for a higher pick this year.

It should make no difference, but the draft is being held at home this year which could provide some sort of incentive for Jim to make a splash. Whether or not the canucks stay at ten, we can all be confident that our crew will bring home a player we can be proud of.

By Adam Schouten

Before 2018, the Hughes name was not one many people had heard of, or at least were used to hearing of. Well Get used to it, because before long it is going to be household across the NHL.

It is not often that a pair of brothers can come into the league and both be notably impactful players on their teams. We were extremely lucky to experience two on the same team here in Vancouver over the past 17 seasons.

There is a new wave of talent being ushered into the NHL right now, and two key components to that are Jack and Quinn Hughes.

Quinn, of course was selected seventh overall by Vancouver in the 2018 Entry Draft, and Jack is projected to go first to new jersey this year. Both are elite prospects that will play a huge role for their respective franchises.

Aside from those two, a THIRD brother by the name of Luke is being touted as the best player out of the trio. It is a little early to get too excited about that one, as Luke is currently only 15 years old. Time will tell whether or not he is superior to his brothers at the professional level.

We were gifted with a 5 game glimpse into what Quinn Hughes can do for us here on the west coast at the end of last season, and oh boy was it something. Expectations amongst fans for the defender’s debut were quite high, and Quinn still SHATTERED them.

Everybody had heard of Hughes’ silky footwork and smooth transitions, but most were unaware of the sheer power his skating technique brings to the table.

Quinn found himself caught behind the play multiple times in which spectators likely counted him out due to the distance between him and the puck carrier. Before we could blink an eye, BOOM he was not just back in it, but had full control of the puck. His sudden bursts of speed are rivaled only by some of the best skaters in the league.

An element of Quinn’s game that wasn’t spoken of much leaving up to his debut is his puck moving ability. It is actually comparable to that of teammate Elias Pettersson.

Pettersson is an instinctual playmaker that can feed the puck to anyone in almost any situation, most of the time without even looking. All of his passes are laser sharp and double the speed of the majority of the other players’. Much of these great qualities are visible in Hughes’ game as well.

Quinn is not afraid to go for that thread-the-needle pass that most other defencemen wouldn’t even consider. He is able to read the play so well that it seems as if he has a roadmap of all other players on the ice prepared in his brain.

The thing that was most impressive about Quinn Hughes’ start in Vancouver was the fact that he oozed confidence right from the get go. It took him no more than one shift to settle in and get comfortable. He had the confidence to make impressive plays, get involved in the play, and most of all, rush the puck.

Quinn dazzled the crowd with his speedy zone exits and entries right from his first period as a Canuck. Defensemen tend to rush the puck less and less in the modern NHL, because opposing forwards are so quick to create odd man rushes the other way. Not Quinn. When he coughs up the puck, he is immediately right back on his horse at full speed on his way to retrieve it, another similarity between him and Elias.

A testament to Quinn’s overwhelming confidence could be seen leading up to his first NHL point. He held the puck when he could have passed, took it behind the net, made a highlight reel bank move around an opposing defender, pulled it around the net with patience and let it rip, allowing Brock Boeser to jam it home. That is a play you could expect to see from a veteran forward, definately not a rookie defenseman in his first NHL game.

What got Canucks fans most excited at the end of the season were the overtime opportunities, specifically the ones that involved Hughes, Pettersson and Boeser.

We were shown shifts that could be replicated only by Sedinery in it’s prime. The way those three guys move the puck and click with eachother is something special, and it will be for years to come.

Many people here in Vancouver are biting their tongues wishing we would have won that number one pick, and yes, it is a damn shame that we will not be able to unite the brothers. We do, however, have something very special in our hands right now in Quinn Hughes alone, and that is something that we can marvel at.

By Adam Schouten

The Canucks have now missed the playoffs for four consecutive years. Four. It is safe to say we have soldiered through the worst of this lackluster series of dismal seasons. With that being said, many fans seem to be led to debate about when the Canucks will actually be playing hockey late into April again.

I believe at this point, there is no question we are all itching to see that trademark blue “Stanley Cup Playoffs” logo draped over the ice at Roger’s Arena, and I believe the time is right. An early dose of playoff experience could work wonders for our developing youngsters. After all, we all know that the pace of regular season and playoff hockey are quite divergent from one another.

I truly think the canucks do have a legitimate shot at it next year. I do. However, if that were to happen, there are a few things that absolutely MUST go according to plan.

First of all, a staple in all successful playoff teams is solid, consistant goaltending. This season, Jacob Markstrom has proven he does have the ability to provide that for this team, but he must continue his stellar play into next season if we want any sort of a shot.

Elias Pettersson dazzled us all in the first half of this season with his unexpectedly heated scoring pace, mind boggling plays, and sneaky dekes. His production began to taper off after December, which is something that can’t happen when he is such a driving force on this team. I don’t think that will be a problem for us next year, as he will be entering the 2019/20 season with experience and a better understanding of the NHL schedule.

So we have a focused Markstrom, and a full season of a Petey magic, Now what? Grit! The game may be evolving into a more skill based battle, but during the playoffs the sport seems to always rediscover it’s roots: fast paced, hard hitting chippy hockey.

We added Antoine Roussel in free agency last summer, and his contribution to the team this year was quite notable. He was great for getting under the other team’s skin, and he was always willing to step in for a teammate, something that had been missing from this group for quite some time. Problem: Rousell is currently out of commission with a long term injury, one that will carry into next season. It is hard to picture him picking up immediately where he left off when he does re-enter the lineup.

Let’s assume Rousell does come out of the gate raring to go. So we have a tough guy. That’s great, but it’s not gonna cut it. Jason Botchford said it best: “We need an army!”. Benning is going to have to get to work and add some pieces this offseason that will bring shelter to our young, skilled core.

There is nothing better than playoff hockey, especially when your team is in the thick of it. Vancouver has been very patient in waiting for the return of the white towels, but there is a good chance the wait isn’t quite over yet. If things go right next season, we do have a shot.

As we have seen so far in this year’s postseason, once you are in, all doors are open and anything is possible. ‘Getting in’ is the key part. Whatever the case, keep holding out hope, Vancouver. We are getting there.

By Adam Schouten

As you may be aware, the Canucks are currently in the midst of a major youth movement. With the likes of players such as Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and Quinn Hughes Taking center stage as they begin to make their mark on the organization, there are some key pieces to the puzzle that are, for the most part, left out of the spotlight.

One player on this slowly but surely developing team that is particularly integral to the future is Bo Horvat. Of course everyone recognizes Bo for his great work ethic and leadership qualities, and of course we already know him to be the captain of this ship, but there is alot more to unravel about Bo, and just how important he is here in Vancouver.

A 19 year old Horvat first joined the team in the midst of a turbulent 2014/15 season, bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready for his shot with the big guns. The kid from Rodney, Ontario ushered in a feeling amongst Canucks fans that had seemingly been misplaced at some point during the steady decline that was the previous few seasons: it was a sense of hope. Hope not just to make the playoffs that year, but rather a deeper feeling of excitement for the future. This was the beginning of the youth movement we know today.

Over His next few seasons, Bo developed at a steady rate. His confidence increased, and with it so did ice time, point totals, and opportunities. It was these opportunities that Bo made the most of. His game grew from the ground up, and we watched him evolve into the player he is today: a core player that can play in any role with any linemate. The ideal top two center. With the guidance of players like Daniel and Henrik Sedin among others, He found himself molding into a leadership role on the team. It now goes without saying, in Roger’s Arena, on the ice, in the stands, in the room, everywhere, Bo Horvat is the true Captain.

To fully appreciate the effect Horvat has on this team, you need to watch him, alot. You also have to study him. This is why he lacks proper recognition from many fans around the league. He is a creator who transforms his energy on the ice into situations that benefit his team. There is rarely ever a moment during a Bo Horvat shift when you can look down onto that ice surface and not see him involved in the play. In fact, he takes the word ‘involved’ to the next level. He is up front and center, fighting his absolute hardest to retrieve that puck. There is something special about Bo’s game. It is a determination not just to get points or make a decisive play, but to help his team by any means necessary in any possible way he can. A thirst to be successful with his teammates. It is that drive, that passion, that leads teams to Stanley Cups.

A good way to look at it is if we erased Bo Horvat, where would we be without him? Well, first of all either Brandon Sutter or Jay Beagle would be a top 2 center on this team, putting more pressure on a young and still developing Elias Pettersson. Offensive production would take a serious hit. We would also be relying heavily on Veterans like Alex Edler and Chris Tanev to step into that leadership role, which is not ideal for many reasons. A young, driven captain like Horvat that develops with this team for years before any sort of contention for success is a major benefit. He has the opportunity to watch and welcome every new player joining the team, and help to guide them in finding their game. Bo’s leadership starting early in his career is a very good thing.

So what does Bo Horvat mean to this organisation? Well, simply put he means everything. Bo is the spark that started this fire that will burn so bright one day. He is as core as core players get. If we are going to fight for a cup one day, Bo Horvat is the man we need to lead the charge.