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VANCOUVER, B.C. —New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat returns to Vancouver, the place where it all started, as the Islanders battle the Canucks Wednesday night at 10 PM ET.
“Yeah, obviously, you circle it on your calendar,” Horvat said. “To go back to the city where it all started, it’s always in the back of your mind.”
Taken 9th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2013, Horvat spent nine seasons in Rain City and was named captain following the departure of Henrik Sedin ahead of the 2019-20 season.
In 621 regular season games with the organization, Horvat tallied 201 goals with 209 assists.
In 23 playoff games, the London, Ontario native recorded 11 goals with five assists.
Because of how COVID-19 negatively affected the NHL’s salary cap, many NHL franchises had their backs against the wall with difficult decisions lying ahead of them.
The Canucks were one of those teams that had to make a difficult decision heading into the 2022-23 season: Sign J.T. Miller or Horvat.
Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin and Co. chose Miller, inking him to a seven-year deal worth $56 million. It became clear that if Horvat wasn’t willing to take a substantial discount, the Canucks would have no choice but to trade him rather than risk losing him for nothing in free agency.
After contract negotiations eventually stalled, the Islanders and Canucks agreed on a trade during the 2023 All-Star break, as New York acquired Horvat in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, top prospect Aatu Raty, and a conditional first-round pick in 2023.
Related: Rue De Rumeur: Beauvillier on Trade Block, Looking Back at Horvat Trade
Before stepping foot on the practice sheet, the Islanders locked Horvat up, an eight-year deal worth 68 million.
“When you’re told one thing, and the opposite happens, and stuff like that. A lot of stuff that went on obviously didn’t sit well,” Horvat said back on Saturday. “But it led me to here. And I couldn’t be happier to be here. My family loves it here, and I love it here.”
It wasn’t long into Horvat’s Long Island tenure that he had to face his former team.
In the newcomer’s third game in blue and orange, his second home game, the Canucks came to UBS Arena, as Horvat lit the lamp in a 6-5 loss.
With the Islanders in the heat of a playoff race last year, Horvat let his emotions come through when asked about what it’s been like to play for the Islanders.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s been unbelievable,” Horvat said. “It’s a lot better than Vancouver. I’ll tell you that for free.”
Canucks fans, as expected, took it personally, which wasn’t Horvat’s intention.
“I didn’t mean any disrespect to the fans of Vancouver or my teammates or the city of Vancouver at all. It wasn’t directed at them,” he said a few days later. “The fans were all excited, and I was excited to be in a playoff push. It was just one of those things where my emotions got the best of me.”
Related: Islanders Bo Horvat Opens Up About The Mental Toll Trade Took On Him
Now we wait to see what kind of reaction the Rogers Arena crowd gives him Thursday night.
“I have no idea, to be honest with you. I think some of them were pretty upset with what I said last year,” Horvat said Saturday. “The fans took it more personally than I wanted them to take it.
“Obviously, it wasn’t directed at them. I was just more upset with how everything went down last year.”
Horvat continued: “I couldn’t be happier to be here, but just the way everything went down beforehand with all the media stuff and how myself and my family were kinda treated, it definitely stung a little bit. Something I didn’t forget. I said what I said. I’m just excited to get back there. I started my career in Vancouver. I loved the city, the people, and the fans when I was playing there. Excited to get back there and play again.”
After struggling mightily in 2022-23, the Canucks are rolling to start this season.
Backed by Quinn Hughes’ Norris Trophy start, Elias Pettersson’s 1.66 points per game, and Thatcher Demko’s 1.96 GAA, the Canucks find themselves second in the Pacific Division (11-3-1), just two points shy of the Vegas Golden Knights.
“Yeah, they do have a great team. They’re playing really well right now,” Horvat said. “Obviously, Demko’s been playing unbelievable, too. I’ve always thought of him as a heck of a goaltender.
“They’re off to a great start. They’ve added some great pieces. They have obviously Hughesy and Petey, and Boeser is having a really good year so far. It’s nice to see those guys doing well, for sure.”
The bond between teammates, that emotion from battling day in and day out, is something that words can’t mimic, especially for a player who spent close to a decade with an organization and teammates he loved.
“I definitely keep in contact with them quite a bit. Get a text here and there, stuff like that.” Horvat said.””Seeing how they’re doing and keeping tabs on them. It’s good to see they’re doing well.”
The Islanders have played the opposite of Vancouver out of the gate (5-6-3) and are in the midst of a five-game skid.
Following Monday night’s 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the Islanders could use a Horvat special Thursday to end the skid in what will be an emotional day for No. 14.
“A couple of guys chatted about [Horvat’s return] the other day, like first time going back. A few guys have experienced that,” Horvat’s teammate Brock Nelson said. “It’s a unique situation, and I’m sure he’ll go back there with a lot of fond memories and see a lot of familiar faces and friends and probably quite a few people that he still keeps in touch with.
“Anytime you go back to another place, I think everyone wants to want to support him.”
Horvat has four goals and seven assists in 13 games this season.
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