It was quite the season for Bo Horvat. Despite most fans calling for the captaincy to be bestowed upon him after the retirement of long-time leader Henrik Sedin, the Vancouver Canucks went without a named captain and instead allowed Horvat and his teammates to concentrate on their hockey. The 2018/19 season was a breakout season for the young Canucks star.
You would forgive Horvat if he had struggled to adapt to the additional pressure placed on his young shoulders in the wake of the Sedins’ departure. He was expected to carry even more of the team’s defensive responsibilities, take even more of the team’s crucial face-offs late in games, and take on tougher assignments to free up rookie sensation Elias Pettersson to face easier opponents.