LATEST | Bo Horvat comments on his return to Vancouver: Rips into the Canucks' management

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Felip Gosselin
November 14, 2023 (8:30 PM)

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Bo Horvat was Canucks for nine years and was given the opportunity to captain the historical franchise for his last few years. Tonight will mark his return to VanCity and it will also mark the first time he plays at the Rogers Arena wearing the Visitors' jersey.

FORMER CAPTAIN EAGER TO RETURN

621 Regular season games, 201 goals and 209 assists have made Horvat's time with the team memorable. The former captain opened up on what it meant to come back to the place where is NHL journey begun:

"Yeah, obviously, you circle it on your calendar. To go back to the city where it all started, it's always in the back of your mind."

FIRING BACK AT THE TEAM'S MANAGEMENT

Horvat made the news when he was commented on how different it was to play in Long Island versus Vancouver. His comments broke lots of fans' hearts and after issuing an official apology, he reiterated earlier during the weekend that none of his comments were aimed at the fans but rather to the team's management.

"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. 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. [] 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. 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."

It sure feels like Bo felt betrayed by the team's management when they signed J.T. Miller over him and then fail to extend him leading up to the trade.

"Obviously, it wasn't directed at them. I was just more upset with how everything went down last year.

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."

Despite everything, Horvat mentionned that he was glad his former teammates were having success. From Boeser, to Pettersson, to Hughes and Demko, he was glad the boys were off to a solid start.

The 2013 Canucks' draft pick is definitely looking up at the opportunity to play in front of the fans that cheered him on for so many years. After a career season where he had 70 points in 79 games, Horvat now has 11 through 13 games with the Islanders who are showing off a 5-6-3 record.

SOURCE: The Hockey News