Horvat took big steps forward in his second NHL season, notching 16 goals and 40 points in a full 82-game campaign. The 21-year-old delivered in the clutch with four game-winning tallies and found himself a spot on the power play. The youngster is the center of Vancouver’s youth moment and was one of the team’s best players towards the end of the season. The Canucks will be in tough, but Horvat managed to shine throughout a rough year for the team, so given the team’s acquisition of Loui Eriksson, a healthy Brandon Sutter and the rise of power-play quarterback Ben Hutton, Horvat should have no problem improving on last year’s totals. The center is a rising fantasy star and could be the team’s scoring leader as early as next season.

Horvat turned heads in his first NHL season, racking up 13 goals and 25 points in 68 regular-season games before adding a goal and four assists in six first-round playoff games. Despite averaging just 12:15 of ice time, Horvat still finished eighth on the team in goals and dished out a punishing 70 hits. While the 20-year-old is projected to be the Canucks’ second-line center of the future, the offseason acquisition of Brandon Sutter from Pittsburgh likely means Horvat will be centering the third line to start the 2015-16 campaign. A 30-goal scorer in the OHL, he's a promising two-way center who has tremendous offensive skill and always gives 100 percent effort. While he’s yet to be used on the power play and might be stuck in a bottom-six role for now, Horvat is likely to increase his production if he plays a full 82-game campaign in his sophomore year.

Horvat had a chance to start last season with the Canucks, but was instead sent back down to the London Knights of the OHL. While there, Horvat dominated once again, recording 30 goals and 74 points to go with a plus-20 rating in 54 games. The 19-year-old will be given every opportunity to crack the Canucks’ roster this upcoming season, and if he does, a gig on the third- or fourth-line could await. Horvat is going to be a key fantasy contributor one day, but just don’t expect major results right away. Even so, the ninth overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft should help boost a Canucks’ team in need of some offensive help from the lower lines.

Horvat is the prospect that spurred the Canucks to trade away Cory Schneider on draft day. Selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2013 draft, Horvat's best attributes are his defensive play and talents in the face-off circle, but he also has the skill to be a top-six option in the very near future. The gritty youngster is expected to get a long look during camp, but he’ll likely have to beat out 2012 first-round pick Brendan Gaunce for a roster spot and possible third-line centering gig. Keeper leagues should take notice immediately, while re-draft formats may want to throw a late-round dart at Horvat if he impresses enough in camp to earn a roster spot.