Exploring the New Leadership Group of the Vancouver Canucks after Bo Horvat’s Departure

The post-Bo Horvat era has officially begun for the Vancouver Canucks.

Taking to the ice for the first time since trading in a rare full practice in New Jersey on Sunday, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet shook the lines with new signing Anthony Beauvillier and adjusted the lead group to what he sees fit .

Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson are joining the leadership group and will carry ‘A’ with the hockey club, rotating with Oliver Ekman-Larsson and JT Miller, both of whom have filled that role on points this season.

Meanwhile, Luke Schenn, a steadfast leader and the team’s oldest player, remained undeclared, as did Tyler Myers.

At this point, it looks like there won’t be a Canucks captain, as two of the youngest, albeit best, players take turns taking letters, which Tocchet alluded to in an interview with Mike Halford and Jason Brough on Sportsnet 650.

“It might be a little bit of a push out of her comfort zone,” Tocchet told Sportsnet’s Iain Macintyre in Newark, New Jersey. “All I know is that they were both excited. I told them I needed them to pick up the pace here for me. I need them to raise the bar.”

With the gap left by Horvat’s departure, Beauvillier ran on the top line in familiar Metropolitan Division surroundings and took his place along the wing with Pettersson in the middle.

But Horvat, now just a few miles from the Canucks’ Sunday practice, had his say in the lead alongside Pettersson at the NHL All-Star Game.

“He would be my vote when it came down to it, and I’m sure one day it will get to him,” Horvat said at the NHL All-Star Media Day. “If it does, I couldn’t be happier for him and obviously he’s going to be a great captain.”

While those who carried letters Monday night against the New Jersey Devils highlight the start of the post-Horvat era, Tocchet has also adjusted the lines, with Miller slipping into the middle of the second line after failing to open up earlier in the season of the position had settled.

Pettersson, Beauvillier and Andrei Kuzmenko form the leading group, with the former Islander likely taking Horvat’s former bumper spot on top power play. Vasily Podkolzin, Nils Aman and Phil Di Giuseppe have all returned from stints in the AHL Abbotsford and appear ready to make their way into the NHL roster.

“It’s very exciting, very talented players [that] can shoot the puck, it’s exciting and I’m super excited to be here,” Beauvillier told reporters after his first practice session. “Playing with these guys will be a great opportunity for me.”

The Canucks meet the Devils Monday night at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET.

Source: dailyhive.com