You might say Horvat is a quick study. It required only half a season for the highly rated prospect to find his footing in the NHL.
After scoring three goals in his first 32 games in the 2014-15 season, he scored 10 goals in the final 36 games, a feat made more impressive considering he was usually operating on the Vancouver Canucks' fourth line.
You might say Horvat is a quick study. It required only half a season for the highly rated prospect to find his footing in the NHL.
After scoring three goals in his first 32 games in the 2014-15 season, he scored 10 goals in the final 36 games, a feat made more impressive considering he was usually operating on the Vancouver Canucks' fourth line.
Selected by the Canucks with the No. 9 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, Horvat suffered a shoulder injury during the 2014 preseason, which warranted a stint with Utica of the American Hockey League, but after five games he returned to the Canucks to stay.
He made his NHL debut Nov. 4, 2014, in a 5-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche, and scored his first NHL goal Nov. 20, 2014, in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
A strong finish to his first season spilled over into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the 6-foot, 206-pound center tied for the Canucks lead with four points during six-game, opening-round loss to the Calgary Flames.
Brimming with confidence, Horvat was even more impressive in his second season. Playing all 82 games, he finished third on Vancouver in goals (16) and points (40).
A native of London, Ontario, Horvat spent three seasons with his hometown London club in the Ontario Hockey League. With London he won the OHL title twice and made three trips to the Memorial Cup tournament.
There would be no championship, but in Horvat's rookie season in 2011-12, London advanced to the tournament final, only to lose to Shawinigan 2-1 in overtime.
Horvat scored a league-leading 16 goals in 21 playoff games in 2013 when London won the OHL title and he received the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as playoff MVP.
