Horvat opens up about trade to Islanders: ‘Felt good to be wanted somewhere’

While the Vancouver Canucks are off to a franchise-record start with palpable excitement around the city, fans remember that this was very much not the case this time last year.

On top of a horrific start that saw the Canucks winless through seven games, then-captain Bo Horvat remained contract-less in his final year before hitting the free market on a team that had no money remaining to sign him.

After months of trade speculation and all-star play on the ice, Horvat was traded to the New York Islanders in a deal that sent a first-round draft pick, Anthony Beauvillier and prospect Aatu Raty to the Canucks.

Watch Bo Horvat’s return to Vancouver on Sportsnet

Long-time Canucks captain Bo Horvat makes his first return to Vancouver as a member of the Islanders. Fans in the Canucks Region can watch on Sportsnet Pacific while all fans in Canada can watch on Sportsnet+ Premium. The puck drops at 10:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. PT on Wednesday.

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Now, making his return to Vancouver to play against the organization that drafted him ninth overall in 2013, Horvat admitted to reporters that he was not happy with how it went down those final months with the Canucks.

“For me, just how it was all handled last year was upsetting, but I mean, I couldn’t be happier to be on Long Island,” Horvat told reporters ahead of the game. “It just felt good to be wanted somewhere and appreciated. I know that the fans appreciated me here a lot but it just felt nice to be appreciated by that organization.”

The 28-year-old became the subject of trade speculation when the cap-strapped Canucks prioritized signing J.T. Miller to a seven-year, $56 million contract ahead of the 2022 season over Horvat, also in need of a new contract.

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Still, Horvat didn’t let that impact his play on the ice — in fact, he may have used it as fuel for the fire, going on a heater that saw him score 31 goals and 54 points in 49 games before he was traded.

That play earned him a cushy eight-year, $68 million contract with the Islanders.

Though he was disaffected with how his situation was handled with the Canucks organization, Horvat insists he has nothing but love for the fans in Vancouver.

“Thanks for all your support over the years for me,” Horvat said when asked what his message was to Canucks fans. “When we were going through our tough times, a lot of fans supported me and stuck by my side all these years and, I mean, I appreciate that.”

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When asked if he was expecting that same love in return from Canucks fans, he joked that when he walked through Vancouver after arriving he “didn’t get beat up, so that’s a good thing.”

“No matter what happens, boos, no boos, I just appreciate what the city and what the organization has done for me.”

You can watch Bo Horvat’s much-anticipated return to Rogers Arena on Sportsnet Pacific (in the Canucks region) or from coast to coast on Sportsnet+ Premium, with coverage starting at 10:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. PT.

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