Bo Horvat is projected to be the captain of the future for the Vancouver Canucks, and the dedicated, head-to-the-grindstone skater is proving he will put in the work to get there.

Off his feet for six weeks with a broken foot, Horvat returned to the lineup on Jan. 21 and will play his fifth game of 2018 tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks. Remarkably, he’s looking faster and stronger despite being held back by crutches. He’s working even harder now, too.

“The main part for me was to come back in great shape and be in tip-top game shape as quick as possible,” he said this morning in an exclusive interview with Sportsnet 650. “Just in my mind, thinking positively, wanting to get back on the ice and working on my game with the skills coach, with Glenny [Glenn Carnegie]. They all got me prepared to be back and ready to go.”

The Playbook Canucks' Horvat talks Toews' example and his ambition to be best February 01 2018 Your browser does not support the audio element.



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Horvat wears his ambitions on his sleeve and he said he wants to be the best in the West by taking notes on his opponents, notably Jonathan Toews.

“He does all the things that a great two-way centreman should do. He wins face-offs, he kills penalties, he blocks shots, he scores goals when needed and he’s a great reliable centreman that I’ve looked up to for a long time,” said Horvat. “He is one of my favourite players to watch. To be going up against him, you definitely want to give it that extra effort tonight and obviously he’s going to be on his game so I’ve got to be on mine.”

Toews, seven years his senior and the Blackhawks’ third-overall pick in 2006, has 654 NHL career points to Horvat’s 140.

The Canuck said he’s working on becoming a 200-foot player and is pleased with the strides he’s made to bolster his defensive game.

“I wanted to be that solid, two-way guy that can be relied on. Defensive game, I’ve definitely wanted to work and I think it’s gotten a lot better this year,” he said. “You always want to be the best. You always want to find different ways to get better and develop your game. Adding that speed and adding that play-making ability, even the goal-scoring touches, is a huge part of my game. Hopefully I can be among the best and at least talked about in the West.”