Canucks centre Bo Horvat picked for NHL's All-Star Game 2017

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      For the past two seasons, the Canucks have been trying to weave younger talent into their aging core, with mixed results. For coach Willie Desjardins, today’s selections for the NHL All-Star Game will be a boost to his confidence.

      Bo Horvat is slated to be the only representative from the Canucks in this year’s hotly-anticipated squad. While the aging Sedins have been a consistent presence at All-Star games in the recent past—Daniel took up the mantle in 2011, 2012, and 2016 (2010, 2013 and 2014 had no All-Star competition) and Henrik was on the roster in 2008, 2011, and 2012—the league’s selection of the younger Horvat is indicative of the changing of the guard at Rogers Arena.

      “It was pretty surreal to hear that I could be an All-Star, and to find out was pretty amazing,” Horvat tells Canucks TV in an interview. “I was kind of in shock. I didn’t know what to think. Especially at such a young age, it’s not likely you get to go to an All-Star Game. So it’s pretty special for me, and for my family, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

      The centre is having his best year to date in the NHL, leading Vancouver in both points (29) and goals (13) through 42 games. He has also set career-highs in the season for average ice time (17:25) and faceoff win percentage (54.2%).

      Horvat is riding a wave of confidence this week, after posting up a seven-game point streak (3-5-8). He enters tonight’s matchup against the Predators with 13 points over the last 13 games (5-8-13).

      The young Canuck will join stars such as Johnny Gaudreau (CGY), Ryan Kesler (ANA), Connor McDavid (EDM), Brent Burns (SJS), and Drew Doughty (LAK) in the Pacific Division.

      The full All-Star roster is as follows:

      Atlantic Division

      Central Division

      Nikita Kucherov (TBL)

      Patrick Kane (CHI)

      Brad Marchand (BOS)

      Patrik Laine (WPG)

      Auston Matthews (TOR)

      Nathan MacKinnon (COL)

      Frans Nielsen (DET)

      Tyler Seguin (DAL)

      Kyle Okposo (BUF)

      Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)

      Vincent Trocheck (FLA)

      Jonathan Toews (CHI)

      Victor Hedman (TBL)

      Duncan Keith (CHI)

      Erik Karlsson (OTT)

      P.K. Subban (NSH)

      Shea Weber (MTL)

      Ryan Suter (MIN)

      Carey Price (MTL)

      Corey Crawford (CHI)

      Tuukka Rask (BOS)

      Devan Dubnyk (MIN)

        

      Metropolitan Division

      Pacific Division

      Sidney Crosby (PIT)

      Jeff Carter (LAK)

      Taylor Hall (NJD)

      Johnny Gaudreau (CGY)

      Evgeni Malkin (PIT)

      Bo Horvat (VAN)

      Alex Ovechkin (WSH)

      Ryan Kesler (ANA)

      Wayne Simmonds (PHI)

      Connor McDavid (EDM)

      John Tavares (NYI)

      Joe Pavelski (SJS)

      Justin Faulk (CAR)

      Brent Burns (SJS)

      Seth Jones (CBJ)

      Drew Doughty (LAK)

      Ryan McDonagh (NYR)

      Cam Fowler (ANA)

      Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ)

      Martin Jones (SJS)

      Braden Holtby (WSH)

      Mike Smith (ARI)

       

      The 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game will take place on January 29 at Staples Center (12:30 p.m., PST). The All-Stars will participate in the 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition on January 28 at Staples Center (4 p.m., PST).

      Follow Kate Wilson on Twitter @KateWilsonSays

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