Horvat proves Team Canada made the right call

Bo Horvat was one of the biggest snubs for Team Canada at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off. The stacked Canadian side had plenty of firepower, leaving Horvat just short of the cut-off line.

But this season, Team Canada made a different sort of decision. The team included Horvat in its official roster. Despite a bit of an injury scare leading up to the Olympics, Horvat was bound for Milano-Cortina. And in his first game, if there was any doubt about including Horvat in the team, the Islanders star silenced critics.

Horvat scored a beauty of a goal in the second period of the game against Czechia on Thursday. Team Canada’s fourth-line center (if you can believe that) scored a fantastic breakaway goal. The reaction on Horvat’s face said it all as he received a congratulatory salute from his teammates on the ice.

In short, Team Canada made the right call by including Horvat in its lineup. While Horvat could be a top line center on any team, he’s a bottom-six forward on a juggernaut of a team like Canada. But it’s not that Horvat couldn’t be the top-line center. It’s that his entire skill set is much more suited for a versatile role for the Canadian side. 

Horvat is X-factor Team Canada needs

Highly skilled teams need an X-factor. Such a player is capable of taking on multiple roles, forcing the opposition to adjust on the fly. 

That’s what Team Canada was looking for in Horvat. The Islanders’ top-line forward is capable of breaking a game open, while also falling into a checking role. That’s not something that every team can afford to have. True two-way players are hard to come by. That’s why Horvat is an example of the embarrassment of riches Team Canada possesses.

At this rate, Horvat could become one of the most memorable Islanders’ players to ever hit Olympic ice. Thus far, he’s making Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong look like a genius. Let’s hope Horvat can continue to excel, making Islanders fans proud in the process.