Vancouver Canucks fans bid farewell to captain Bo Horvat
Posted January 31, 2023 6:36 am.
Last Updated January 31, 2023 4:26 pm.
Just one week after the Vancouver Canucks fired head coach Bruce Boudreau, fans are now saying goodbye to another franchise favourite, with captain Bo Horvat having been traded to the New York Islanders.
Horvat has been at the centre of trade speculation for months. He was the first domino to fall on a Canucks roster that will likely undergo more changes with the team in the midst of a disappointing season.
General Manager Patrik Allvin said Monday it was important for the team “to get a first-round pick back.”
“We got a young prospect in Aatu Raty, and getting a 25-year-old in Anthony Beauvillier that’s been playing pretty consistent for the New York Islanders,” he added.
Thank you, Bo! pic.twitter.com/rCeDyg9WE4
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 31, 2023
News of the trade was followed by a flood of fans saying their goodbyes to the 27-year-old from Ontario, many of them thanking him for being their captain.
“Very sad to see Bo go,” one Canucks fan wrote on Twitter.
“Omg just got off work to see this,” another said, the text accompanied by several crying emojis.
“Trying not to ugly cry right now,” a third person tweeted.
“Won’t be going to Canucks games for a while. Thanks for your efforts and leadership Bo good luck,” another added.
Some Canucks fans also had a moment of déjà vu with this trade, as next week marks the 25th anniversary of Trevor Linden also being traded to the Islanders.
When asked about the trade in a Zoom call with reporters Monday, Horvat gave a sincere response.
“In the summertime and even at the beginning of the year, honestly, I thought I was going to be a Canuck,” he said.
“And I thought I was going to be a Canuck for life, to be honest with you. Just things didn’t work out that way and, you know, it led me to this. So, I’m grateful for that and I’m grateful that the New York Islanders really believe in me and I’m proud to be in New York Islander now.”
Sportsnet 650 host Bik Nizzar admits while this was tough news to accept, it had to happen.
“Ultimately, this is what wins. This is about trying to get to the stage where we’re winning championships. Some of it, for a lot of players, hasn’t worked out and they’re going to make some changes. Some of it has. Obviously, someone like JT Miller got rewarded for a contract, but [the Canucks] needed to refresh whatever this core was and this was the first foray into that,” he explained, adding the deal was inevitable.
“Is it overwhelming, like this thing changes everything for the organization? That remains to be seen, obviously. But now, you give yourself more opportunities at a brighter future, certainly more service years with a young player coming in.”
Related articles:
-
Bye bye Bo: Vancouver Canucks trade Horvat to New York Islanders
-
How can we judge Rick Tocchet, and the success of new coaches in general
-
Young Vancouver Canucks fan gets surprise after signed hockey stick lost
In a statement released on Instagram Tuesday afternoon, Horvat sent a message to the Canucks family, thanking the fans and everyone involved with the franchise for his time in Vancouver.
Horvat spent nine seasons with the organization, serving as the team’s captain since 2019. The 27-year-old, a pending unrestricted free agent, is in the middle of a career-best season, with 31 goals and 24 assists through 49 games.
“It’s a tough goodbye. It doesn’t go unnoticed what everybody has done for me,” Horvat added Monday, also describing his emotions as part disappointment, part relief.
-With files from Sportsnet
