VANCOUVER -- The hardest thing about making the National Hockey League at age 19, besides, you know, making the NHL at 19, is understanding the difference between being on the roster and playing in the league.
“That’s probably the toughest part,” centre Bo Horvat said Saturday after the Vancouver Canucks finished their pre-season with a 3-2 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers. “You work so hard in the pre-season, and it’s an honour to make the opening-day roster. But there’s still only nine games for you and you have to perform or you’ll be right back down in junior.