That’s Horvat with a C — Canucks go with Bo for captain

VANCOUVER—Bo Horvat is the new captain of the Vancouver Canucks. The team made the announcement Wednesday night before their home opener against the L.A. Kings.

Vancouver went without a captain last year following the retirement of long-time leader Henrik Sedin and his twin brother Daniel at the end of the 2017-18 season. Instead, the team used a rotating crew of assistants, including Horvat.

“We don’t take it lightly,” Canucks coach Travis Green said. “We think it’s the right time for our organization and the right time for the person we’re going to name.”

There’s long been talk that Horvat would take on the role, but the 24-year-old centre said he’s put the team’s leadership to the back of his mind and is focused instead on playing his best hockey.

“Even to be in consideration is very humbling for me. At the same time, no matter if I’m wearing a C or an A or no letter at all, for me, I’m just going to be the same person and just try to help my team win every single night,” he said.

The London, Ont. product said he learned a lot about leadership while playing with the Sedin twins, including the importance of leading by example and making sure guys are comfortable approaching him about anything.

“They were just complete pros on and off the ice. Definitely learned a lot from them,” he said.

Horvat’s game reached a new level last year when he set career highs in goals (27), assists (34) and points (61). He was drafted ninth overall by the Canucks in 2013 and became a regular fixture in the lineup in the 2014-15 season. He is the 14th captain in the franchise’s history.

Horvat has long shown something a little special, Henrik Sedin said before Wednesday’s game.

“Most of the young guys who come in, they’re good hockey players, they want to score or they want to play well,” Henrik Sedin said before the game. “But then there’s some guys who have that extra dimension to them. They see more of a big picture and you can see that they think differently than most guys. And he’s been one of them, for sure.”

His advice was simple.

“Be yourself. He got picked because he is who he is,” Sedin said. “They know him and he doesn’t have to change.”