Horvat 'didn't mean any disrespect' by 'better than Vancouver' comment
Bo Horvat apologized for ruffling the feathers of his former team's fan base with his postgame comments on Saturday.
Horvat raised eyebrows when he said the excitement of participating in the New York Islanders' push for the playoffs was "a lot better than Vancouver."
Bo Horvat on #Islesnation and playing at UBS Arena 🥶🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/thCi6q7OxC
— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) April 9, 2023
"I wasn't obviously expecting that," the former Canuck said Monday, per The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. "It was kind of a heat of the moment thing. I didn't mean any disrespect to the fans of Vancouver or my teammates or (the) city of Vancouver at all. It wasn't directed at them at all. The (Islanders) fans were all excited, and I was excited to be in a playoff push. It was just kind of one of those things where my emotions got the best of me.
"I was just really happy to be there, to be honest with you. It might have come out the wrong way to a lot of people so I apologize for that. I'm just excited to be in the position right now, to be in a playoff push, to be right there. I really enjoyed my time in Vancouver; I'm not trying to disrespect them at all. I'm sorry if it offended anybody but I'm really happy to be in this position right now."
The Canucks traded Horvat to the Islanders in January after nine seasons - including three-plus as captain - with Vancouver. He signed an eight-year, $68-million extension with New York shortly after being dealt.
The Canucks were 27th in the NHL with a 20-26-3 record when they moved Horvat. The club also replaced former head coach Bruce Boudreau with Rick Tocchet roughly a week before shipping out their former captain. Since Tocchet was brought in, Vancouver is the sixth-best team in the Western Conference at 18-11-4. Despite the positive turnaround, the Canucks have already been eliminated from postseason contention for the third consecutive season.
Horvat has registered 15 points in 28 games since arriving on Long Island, a stark decline in production from the 31 goals and 23 assists he put up in 49 games this season with the Canucks.
The Islanders hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 91 points through 80 games. They're tied in points with the Florida Panthers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are one back entering the final week of the regular season.