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Observations:

February 2015 – While it may have officially started in January (30th), Horvat’s recent hot streak has made February one to remember for the young man. He has put up five points, including three goals and a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists) in the last seven games. He has seen his ice-time increase by an average of four minutes per game, including a career-high 14:59 versus the Penguins on February 7th,  which resulted in one of his goals. This is extremely positive for everybody involved, as the 19-year-old has now shown he can be counted on for much more than just steady defensive play over the next few years. Mike Barrett

November 2014 – Bo Horvat scored his first career NHL goal on November 20th versus the Anaheim Ducks and posted a three assist game one game later versus a talented Chicago Blackhawks roster. While the string of points are great news, Bo Horvat is impressing the Canucks brass with his outstanding maturity and defensive presence. Early in the season, Horvat sits with a 60% faceoff proficiency rate and his minutes are starting to climb. On November 25th, Head Coach Willie Desjardins announced to Bo and his teammates that he will be staying with the Vancouver Canucks. See Video Below. Unfortunately for Hockey Canada, this news likely keeps Horvat from being part of the 2015 World Junior team. Brendan Ross

November – Bo Horvat stuck with the Canucks after a solid training camp, but he has not been a fixture in the lineup only playing in six of 19 games and recording no points (two PIM, minus-1). The organization is being cautious with his development, as they are stretching out his stay as long as possible before reaching the nine-game mark.

The 19-year-old center is a polished all-around product who has earned the trust of Coach Desjardins for his defensive and faceoff prowess.  While Horvat is not having any offense success in the NHL, the experience gained is tremendous toward his long-term development. It just makes too much sense for the Canucks to send Horvat back down to London to finish the year strong with a Canadian Gold Medal and Memorial Cup at the junior level rather than barely stay above water in the NHL. – Mike Barrett

October 2014 – After scoring only 1 goal but “making” the Canucks roster out of training camp, Horvat has been sent down to the AHL for a short-term conditioning stint. This label is the only way Horvat is eligible for the AHL, and is done so with the intent on giving their top prospect as much exposure to professional hockey as possible before making a final decision. He was predictably rusty in his first game; given the circumstances, his coach was happy with his game. If this stint goes well, he may get a nine game tryout with the Canucks, but odds are he will be sent back to London eventually. Mike Barrett

September – Looking like a leader at Team Canada’s summer evaluation camp, Horvat enters the 2014-15 season with his eyes on making the Canucks as a 19-year-old. While he may possess the necessary skills to play in the NHL, Horvat will most likely be returned to London where he will be heavily relied upon to compete for another Memorial Cup and World Junior gold. Mike Barrett

January 2014 – Bo has increased his points per game rate from .9 last year to 1.6 this year and is still the shutdown center for the London Knights. Despite speculation of a groin or foot injury that  may have hampered his skating, Horvat earned rave reviews while playing Team Canada; both his coach and Canucks scouts lauded his defensive play. He lead the WJC squad in faceoffs taken and in faceoff percentage with 60.8%. Finishing the tournament with only half a point per game may seem disappointing, but he was tasked with shutting down the oppositions top players, not scoring points. Austin Wallace

December 2013 – Bo Horvat is one of 13 forwards selected to the Canadian Under-20 World Junior roster for the upcoming Championships in Malmo, Sweden. During pre-tournament play, Horvat formed tremendous chemistry with Sam Reinhart and Connor McDavid suggesting that the trio could form one of Canada’s top two lines. Horvat has already demonstrated his wicked wrist shot scoring against the Finns in the first pre-tournament play and his strong two-way game should be an easy compliment to any of Canada’s top three lines. Brendan Ross

November 2013 – Bo Horvat of the London Knights was named to the OHL roster for the 2013 SUBWAY Super Series. Horvat’s 17 points through 13 games places him second in Knights scoring. Brendan Ross

October 2013 – Like many before him, Horvat will forever be linked to the player he was acquired for. That being said, he is beginning to make his own name for himself, displaying instant chemistry with 24^th pick Hunter Shinkaruk. Before a pre-season trade, Horvat was reported to have made the Canucks opening day roster with superb preseason defense to go with flashes of his offensive potential. Now back in London, he is showing significant improvement at a 1.5 points-per-game pace on the top line with fellow top prospect, Max Domi. He hasn’t a point per game in the OHL, look for him to easily surpass that this year, as well as make the Canadian WJC team. Austin Wallace

May 2013 – No player in the 2013 NHL draft class elevated their draft status more than Bo Horvat during the OHL Playoffs after the Rodney, Ontario native scored the OHL Championship winning goal with 0.1 seconds remaining in Game 7 versus Barrie. Horvat was leaned on heavily for top defensive minutes in an attempt to shutdown the leagues’ top players. In addition, London rode Horvat’s hot hand as an offensive contributor as well and the young mature pivot ended the postseason with a league-leading 16 goals (21 games). Bo Horvat exemplifies leadership and high character and these two qualities are just a few reasons why he may be selected inside the Top 10 for the 2013 NHL Draft. Horvat was the recipient of the Most Sportsmanlike Award for the 2013 Memorial Cup as he displayed respect and a devotion to the game en route to registering five points in five tournament games. Brendan Ross

March 2013 – Not surprisingly, Bo Horvat showed well in the Best Faceoff (2nd) and Best Shot Blocking (1st) categories of the annual OHL Western Conference Poll. Horvat had a very strong regular season competing hard at both ends of the rink and tallied 33 goals and 61 points in 67 games for the London Knights. Brendan Ross

February 2013 – This future captain of an NHL team owns a complete package of skills and the intangibles of no other player in this draft class. Understanding and reading the game is Horvat’s greatest asset and it is evident in his ability to play in all three zones of the ice. He has been high on this list since last season and now other scouting services are beginning to realize that Horvat is much more than just a defensive forward (although, good luck winning a faceoff against him). He lacks top end speed but his powerful skating stride makes him a difficult player to knock off the puck especially when he combines his underrated puck control skills and intense never-quit attitude in board battles.  Brendan Ross

Fantasy Outlook: B+

His top-level defense drove him up the rankings in a loaded draft class, and it will secure him minutes at the NHL level, but it is his offense that will keep him in a top-six role. Vision, passing and underrated stickhandling combine to make him a relatively safe projection as a defensively responsible second line center.

Footage:

Willie Desjardins informs Bo Horvat that he’s staying with the Canucks (November 25th):

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Bo Horvat scores first career NHL goal vs. Anaheim Ducks (November 20th):

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Bo Horvat Highlights:

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