Guest Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Hey guys. We all know who Virtanen is: BC boy, tons of potential, etc, but do we think he's a bust or star? Spoiler The Vancouver Canucks may have broken their shiny new toy. Gifted with a rare high first round pick in what’s turned out to be a pretty deep 2014 draft, the Canucks went slightly off the board to select Abbotsford native Jake Virtanen with the sixth overall pick. Still available at that time were William Nylander, currently fourth in rookie scoring with 13 points, and Nikolaj Ehlers, a leading scorer right now in Winnipeg with 16 points. Jake? He’s got one assist in ten games. He’s played the entire season on the fourth line, and he’s been demoted to the Utica Comets twice. Guys. We left you alone for like five minutes and you already broke him. The Canucks passed on two reasonably safe, high-end prospects in Nylander and Ehlers because they saw something in Virtanen’s game that was priceless: the potential for Vancouver’s first real power forward since the departure of one-man wrecking crew, Kyle Wellwood. Indeed, Virtanen scored 45 goals for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, all while carrying a chip on his shoulder that’s bigger than The Mountain’s pet rock. The theory went that if Virtanen could meet his potential, he’d ride roughshod over “soft” players like Nylander and Ehlers. I mean, NHL fans had recently witnessed two big, tough teams win the Stanley Cup in Los Angeles and Boston. Pick a player who can dominate the other team physically while scoring highlight reel goals? And he’s local and has swoopy hair? Yes please. Most power forwards take a bit longer to develop, as they must balance the physical side of their game alongside their scoring prowess. It’s therefore common to let such players cook in the minor leagues, bringing them up slowly. So, obviously Vancouver opted to dump Virtanen into the big leagues at age 19 with zero pro experience after a thoroughly “meh” showing at training camp, because reasons. In training camp last year, 19-year-old rookie Jared McCann made a compelling case for himself to stay with the team. He scored very well in pre-season games and looked ready to make an impact. Sure enough when the chips fell McCann remained, but perplexingly, so too did Virtanen. Jake had done little to impress in his pre-season showings aside from knocking Connor McDavid flat. Yet he fell victim to the same void Bo Horvat was in the previous season: he was perceived to be too good for junior league, but ineligible to be sent to the AHL due to his age. Virtanen is still young, but we don't know what we have in him. That may be at the fault of the management crew too, but is it totally their fault? It seems as if Jake has problems with people in the dressing room, and is perceived as another Ho-Sang. Lots of potential, but the attitude problems are evident. This would mean that in order to call the 2014 draft year successful, we're relying on a 6th overall kid with attitude. Ouch. Yes Benning may have picked some gems, but the high picks are the ones where we are looking to find the top talent. With McCann looking like a bust, we were able to find Gudbranson, who may or may not turn out. In 2014, we picked Virtanen, McCann, Demko, Tryamkin, Forsling, Pettit, and Stewart. Pretty strong draft, but the top two picks have turned out to be disappointing. I think that Demko, Tryamkin, and Forsling will all get NHL jobs for sure, Pettit maybe and Stewart maybe. The Canucks have been plagued since Buffalo rolled number 11 and selected Perreault. We lost Bourdon, Rypien, and more, refs hate us, the league hates us. So when the Canucks got to pick sixth overall, it should mean that we're able to change our history and grab toy a shiny new toy, right? Well, that's up to him. So what do you guys think he'll be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILL BILL NECRO Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swizzey Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 A great bartender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Whatever he wants. He seems to be doing better in Utica where he actually has a real coach who won't destroy his confidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I voted for career AHLer, even though I don't think he ends up there. Jake, IMHAO, will not be playing professional hockey in three seasons. Out of pro hockey should be in your poll too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 17 minutes ago, ILL BILL NECRO said: just peed a little laughing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Jake Virtanen is a 20 year old kid playing hockey in the Vancouver Canucks development program which is being debated in no less than 3 ongoing threads at this moment in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustABandwagoner Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 3rd-4th line grinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 The new Ballard, or Raymond, or Pyatt, or Rome, or Sbisa. Basically the one people seem to have a field day lamenting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoderman Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I can tell you he's not one of Nylander or Ehlers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glory_Days Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 "What is Jake Virtanen" Answer: A disappointment Seriously though, at best a hard checking third liner with a good shot who can pot in 15 goals or so. Don't care how fast you are, or how big you are, how good your shot is. If you are unable to think the game at a higher level, won't be able to utilize that shot or that speed at NHL level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhukini Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Kid with a lot of skill, who enjoys the hockey player life too much. Hes maturing slowly, he's almost the exact opposite of Horvat in every way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam126 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 KHL because why not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I can see why this needed a new thread. God speed mods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckylager Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Not voting because I hate this thread. He's a kid that was rushed due to his size, speed and our lack of depth. Willy f**ked with his head, which was dumb as all hell because the kid was just a boy - "you shouldn't a done that, he's just a boy" Can we please stop with the Virtanen threads until preseason? Patience with PWF, it's common wisdom. Damn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt.Clutch Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Negative, he is a meat popsicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frail Granny Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 11 minutes ago, MJDDawg said: I can see why this needed a new thread. God speed mods. Considering they locked the 800+ page 'Jake Virtanen' thread in the prospects category, I don't know where else you should discuss Jake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frail Granny Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Virtanen's personality reminds me a lot of Seguin. A bit of a douche, but if you let him be himself and loosen the reigns, you might get the most out of him. I think they're over coaching him, personally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckGAME Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I see him developing into a great 3rd liner. Like Torres. He does have the skills to be better than that tho. It's up to him where he wants to be. This off-season will show us all how bad he wants it. If he shows up to camp a fat slob again then it's a lost cause. I'm hoping he gets it together and works his *** off this off-season and shows up to camp one of the best conditioned guy in camp. I still believe in the guy. But like I said this off season will be the tell all on Jake Virtanen in the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 6 minutes ago, Frail Granny said: Considering they locked the 800+ page 'Jake Virtanen' thread in the prospects category, I don't know where else you should discuss Jake. It was unlocked a couple of days ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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