Popular Post *Buzzsaw* Posted December 22, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted December 22, 2017 Ok Folks, you saw this. This was the game when Jake Virtanen announced he was a player... that he belonged in the NHL and that he could change games with his play... perhaps even dominate them. The Canucks didn't win this one... but Jake did. It's been a long development, but it is starting to pay off, and this kid will be a noticeable part of the Canuck's lineup for the forseeable future. 1 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 On 12/20/2017 at 8:53 PM, Vanuckles said: I can relate to Jake. I am not a fast learner. Never been one. You're bringing up some legitimate points but they problems that are easy to address. A few years down the road, his game will come together, I just hope the fans are patient enough to see him mature and hit his prime here. I don't think we have to worry about losing him for few seasons at least. The management, as long as it's TL and JB at the helm, will not trade JV that early and because he hasn't earned that big contract yet, he will be signed at a reasonable cap so there is no concern cap wise. I think this is the year where he establishes himself as an NHL player. I think by the end of the season, he will have become a third line player, playing 13-14 minutes a game. I'm looking forward to what Jake can do next season. He is a fun prospect to track for sure and I think he will hit 20 goals as early as next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlinkas wrister Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 This guy needs to play with Horvat. The speed with which these two attack defensemen would make them crap their (hockey)pants. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rob_Zepp Posted December 22, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted December 22, 2017 On 12/20/2017 at 10:34 AM, GritGrinder said: Next season will be Jake's 4th as a pro and at some point there has to be more offense from his game. I mean half his goals and points this season came in a 3 game stretch 2 months ago. Two counterpoints: - you don't fully measure the value of a player like Virtanen in terms of points. He intimidates the opposition with both his body and his speed and that creates opportunities for others. - he has been coached to take slow, steady steps on the offense front to ensure he understands the other end of the rink to the point he owns the best +/- of any Canuck regular forward along with best underlying statistics for those who believe in those. He was the best Canuck player on the ice last night in almost any measure you care to use. He is emerging in front of eyes of the entire NHL and don't think that isn't being noticed and teams paying attention to when he is on the ice. 1 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucker 67 Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 I thought Jake was the best Canucks player last night against the Sharks. He's definitely improving his game, and this is all we can ask for. If he wasn't improving and wasn't doing the work, then he would be considered a bust I guess. But he's just getting better and better, and one day he will be that dominant power forward Benning drafted him to be. Got to be patient with players like Jake. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobi Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 18 minutes ago, NUCKER67 said: I thought Jake was the best Canucks player last night against the Sharks. He's definitely improving his game, and this is all we can ask for. If he wasn't improving and wasn't doing the work, then he would be considered a bust I guess. But he's just getting better and better, and one day he will be that dominant power forward Benning drafted him to be. Got to be patient with players like Jake. Just imagine having Virtanen and Gadjovich causing chaos in the O zone. If the Canucks can land Kane, even better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucker 67 Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 1 minute ago, gobi said: Just imagine having Virtanen and Gadjovich causing chaos in the O zone. If the Canucks can land Kane, even better. Yeah, I love it. Gadjovich and Jake on the 2nd or 3rd, and maybe MacEwen and Labate on the 4th. Gaunce is another big body who's improving. I like that there are players with size who possess some skill and then ridiculously skilled players like Boeser now, and Pettersson in a year or two. Benning is building a winner. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobi Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 1 minute ago, NUCKER67 said: Yeah, I love it. Gadjovich and Jake on the 2nd or 3rd, and maybe MacEwen and Labate on the 4th. Gaunce is another big body who's improving. I like that there are players with size who possess some skill and then ridiculously skilled players like Boeser now, and Pettersson in a year or two. Benning is building a winner. Yep, I just hope we can land that #1 D in the draft and then we are all set. I hope Benning gets extended soon. He really deserves to be here to see this rebuild through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckledraggin Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 And yet again he comes down the left side of the ice and scores. 95% of this kids offense comes from the left side of the ice and the Canucks are in need of a physical left winger. Why oh why won't they give it a try. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 What really impresses me is his skating style. He skates like Grabner.... very upright, so he looks slow.... but he's going fast. Guys like Mason Raymond or Emerson Etem... they lean forward a lot when going quick, thus it's easy to tell they're going as fast as they can.... plus hard to go side-to-side. There was that one play in the 3rd period against SJS, where the puck was just dumped in between 2 Sharks defenders... usually it's just a routine play where one of the defenseman would just casually skate for the puck.... but instead you see Virtanen just beat them both to the puck. Can't remember if he created a scoring chance with that. But that's what you like to see with him, because if he doesn't get the puck, he'll probably be pasting the opposition against the board. Win-win either way. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
250Integra Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Jake Virtanen has game-changing Mcdavid speed, but it's his hockey IQ that needs development. We have been witnessing how effective his speed can be during the last few games. I just hope he continues to increase his effectiveness and play without the puck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N4ZZY Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 20 minutes ago, 250Integra said: Jake Virtanen has game-changing Mcdavid speed, but it's his hockey IQ that needs development. We have been witnessing how effective his speed can be during the last few games. I just hope he continues to increase his effectiveness and play without the puck. I think that's what Green is working with Jake so far this season. Playing well defensively will lead to offense. but if you are a good offensive player, and play no D, then you become a liability (i.e. Goldobin). I understand Green's approach and respect it. It's hard for young players to play the right way (defense first), because they were so dominant in their junior careers. Green's approaching his young players the right way. The fan base and the media in this city, is often the one that becomes really impatient, but Green's handled a lot of that criticism well too.Virtanen's coming along. Can't wait to see what he'll become in the second half of this season. Something to look forward to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 50 minutes ago, canuckledraggin said: And yet again he comes down the left side of the ice and scores. 95% of this kids offense comes from the left side of the ice and the Canucks are in need of a physical left winger. Why oh why won't they give it a try. I would give you 1 million pluses if possible. Jake is a natural left winger. He sees the ice better from that side. His body is more open to the play too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N4ZZY Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 8 minutes ago, Alflives said: I would give you 1 million pluses if possible. Jake is a natural left winger. He sees the ice better from that side. His body is more open to the play too. Has he been playing there all year? or has he been playing on the right side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 9 minutes ago, N4ZZY said: Has he been playing there all year? or has he been playing on the right side? I'm hoping Jake gets to play left wing with top skilled players soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCNate Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 He hasn't been getting quality minutes this year, only 10-12 on average, and no PP time. I think he earned a fair bit more ice time in the next few games based on how he played last night. I feel that the next 5 games could be a real turning point for him. If he can play anything like last night on a consistent basis, he will become a massive part of this team and it's future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANUCK-EXPRESS Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Should play LW instead of RW. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Cathode Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 4 hours ago, canuckledraggin said: And yet again he comes down the left side of the ice and scores. 95% of this kids offense comes from the left side of the ice and the Canucks are in need of a physical left winger. Why oh why won't they give it a try. Much as I like Jake, and always have, I think not playing him on left wing is mostly about getting out of his own zone - board play is more difficult on your backhand - as his own zone play continues to improve, that could still happen. Sooner if he keeps showing offence from that side. He is a guy who always plays better when he is confident and his game really suffers when he’s not; and it looks like these coaches really want to build up his complete game. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaudette Celly Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 On 12/20/2017 at 3:03 PM, N4ZZY said: More than that, I hope management is mature enough to wait and be patient and not jump the gun on him. They do keep saying the right things, like having a long term plan with Jake. He's making good progress this season under Green. It's becoming more and more clear they've done the right thing with him, and Green is bringing him along extremely well. Methodically, small pieces, small assignments, only short pieces of rope at a time. Yes we want to see him in OT, yes we want to see him on the PP. But he continues to improve, and there is a whole lot more he is capable of bringing yet, especially as his confidence grows when he sees it work. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caknuckle Puck Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Still waiting on VIRTANEN-BO-BOESER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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