-
Posts
11,946 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
98
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Gallery
Everything posted by Rob_Zepp
-
Roller hockey is how Burrows stayed in shape in off-season and is how he claimed he got his first-step speed as you cannot "cheat" and need to use your core to generate the push. It seems a good off-season activity for any player as long, as you correctly note, injury doesn't result.
-
Agreed but you can teach a kid with high hockey IQ how to be a professional and that is what the Canuck's are doing with this kid.
-
At this point?! OMG. This is a kid still. The impatience on this board is insane. Not everyone translates to the professional ranks at same rate. Sure he could be a bust BUT few prospects anywhere in the league have his combination of speed, size and overall toughness - and good hands. If you are looking to write someone off, at least let him have his 21st birthday in the rearview mirror. Sheesh.
-
THIS is a development plan. Why rush? Team isn't winning a cup next year and most of these prospects need to see success and a strong AHL team/season could go miles. The key important step now is to get a coach there that buys in the way Green did.
-
Just when I despair for finding logic in the commentary on such threads, this sort of nugget appears. Well stated! Once you have an AHL team that is capable of providing you NHL ready players that can plug/play, you are closer to being a competitive NHL organization. Any team that is competitive in NHL in spite of its organization depth (which the Canucks were for a few seasons post cup-run), a fall is more likely than a rise for certain. People can support/bash any of the management teams they want but this team seems more intent on depth development than the last one, at least for the most part, and that has to viewed as some form of optimistic trend.
-
Good post and very accurate.
-
Wow. He DID SCORE AT LOWER levels. Junior...right? He also scored at NHL level given minutes and linemates was at a reasonable clip for an 18 year old. He was NOT sent to AHL to score. There were no offensive expectations on him in AHL. He was not given that role nor given that to focus on. Why is that so hard to understand? There are a lot of lifer-AHLers who can put up a lot of points at that level but refuse to learn the game to allow them to take a next step. All accounts were that Jake did was asked and was making great strides. His shot count was decent and he was snake bit a few times but, again, he wasn't there to focus on scoring. Until you see him put in a position that is meant for him to provide opportunities and goals, a spot that may come as early as this next season at NHL level, hold the pessimism.
-
Points are points. He wasn't sent to AHL to score - he was sent to learn how to play professional hockey. He is not a "bottom six energy guy". His "offensive upside" isn't limited it wasn't the focus of the assignment. He is a raw talent who was a men among boys for too long as a junior and needs to learn how to play it a professional level but his innate speed, hands and other instincts that will allow him to score and create opportunities will not vanish. The fixation on points here is amazing. He could easily score 20 goals at NHL level next year - in fact it was arguable with better line options and playing time he might have had near that in his first year at NHL level - but his overall game wasn't ready. He went to AHL to learn how to play responsibly and the offense will not vanish from a guy who has those wheels and those hands. Amazing lack of patience. Give him a few years. He is an unique talent and if he learns as much as he did this last year each of the next two, he will make the pick look brilliant.
-
Yes, because points are all that matters and no one, ever, developed after they turned 19 or 20 and grew into their potential. No one. Ever. Thanks for clearing up all the discussion on this prospect. Clearly he should simply walk away from the game as any chance of improving and learning how to use his explosive speed, strong shot and strong torso at the professional level is clearly beyond all possibility. No player EVER got better with time/teaching. No player ever had unreal raw talent but had never learned to harness it and was then made to learn the defensive side of the rink for a year or two and then blossom. Never happened before and so let's stop this discussion on this player as it now has all been said. Gawd this board is painful to read sometimes!
-
LOL - awesome comeback. I like you. Cheers.
-
Your fixation with points says it all.....
-
Wow, you have this knowledge based upon your extensive watching of junior hockey games? MT is a head case and will wear thin on his teammates just like he did in junior except at NHL level he cannot simply "move on". Second year in league when teams know he is coming he will be far less effective. Given the Canucks needs, OJ is a far better prospect but for some I guess the instant gratification is more important than hockey logic.
-
Again, you are missing the point. All you keep noting is points and goals. For the type of player he is, one that didn't have to worry about play away from the puck when in junior as he simply "scared" the opposition, it is a process and it takes a few seasons. Travis Green is acknowledged as one of the best developers of young talent but also for someone without filters and who was leaned on heavily for advice when, for example, trading HS. When Green says Virtanen has come miles this year I would not only believe him but expect next season, which may again start in AHL, to be that much better again. I stand by my comments elsewhere that once this kid is 23-24, wherever he is playing (If Canucks give up on him, huge mistake) he will be a beast and someone that everyone in the NHL will want. They don't grow blocks of talent like this who are that strong and still that fast with good hands. One or two at most per draft and they are coveted. The challenge is they often take a while to develop - and patience is not something many hockey fans in this market tend to have.
-
Focusing on goals/points in the AHL is missing the point of the AHL - he is developing and has been given clear development goals/instructions. If you hear Green say he is progressing and doing well, then he is doing exactly that. Anyway, you stay negative and have unrealistic expectations but then when he does develop and do well at least admit how wrong you were.
-
Totally disagree. I am very happy you are not managing this team. Patience with this type of skill is essential - sooooooo many examples of power forwards that take until 22 to 25 to blossom and then they dominate for a decade. Right from Clark Gillies, Charlie Simmer and others in that day to the present, these guys come out of junior and struggle for a bit to find that they no longer dominate against men and it takes a few seasons, often best in AHL or similar, to get the groove. Also typical is the anxious fans who expect every player to be the player they are going to be right out of the gate - and that happens so rarely but somehow has become the expectation for all. I remain convinced fan expectation, and expectation that is not rooted in logic or hockey knowledge, is getting so far removed from reality. You have a stud in Virtanen, embrace this fact and watch him take another big step next year.
-
Not even remotely close to accurate. Where someone is drafted has little bearing on their development path. Power forwards take longer to develop - watch Kassian tonight and tell me many didn't think he was bust in Buffalo, Vancouver and Montreal. NYI gave up on Bert way early too. Virtanen is a kid and by the sounds of it was a bit immature with attitude towards fitness and regime - it happens, but it doesn't take away the raw talent that he has. The combination of speed, shot and size is relatively unique in his draft year let alone in general in the NHL. Give him at least until he is 22-23 before even remotely judging his draft position. This insane need to bash kids before they have a chance is disheartening. Some develop faster but for even those can crash and burn - in Toronto they had three rookies in top five of rookie scoring but changes of all three progressing next year is highly unlikely for example. Canucks now have players like Dahlen and Goldie and Boeser that seemingly are quicker to develop and this should help Virtanen too as he can be under radar a bit. Just as I was right with Grandlund, I am saying here and now (quote away ye negative ones) that in three seasons time other than Matthews, Toronto would gladly trade either of their other two top rookies for Virtanen and he will be well-placed in compare with the rest of his draft cohort.
-
Nylander is not "so special" and after through the league once now, expect him to struggle. Come back next season and see how he struggles - betting he will and some of the players you have crapped on will not.
-
Classic moment of 2017 playoffs - Burrows bites the finger of a rat in the first round.
-
Not at all, I am saying if it is rooted in actual facts and is constructive then it is fine...but fabricating BS about people that are just barely out of their teens for some twisted trolling impact isn't cool let alone remotely mature. If a prospect is struggling to live up to expectation it is worthy of discussion but to start in on crap about stuff NO ONE here knows anything about is not cool at all. Further, for every 19 year old phenom in the league there are more examples of guys that took until 22-25 to hit their stride. What I am advocating is patience and fairness with younger guys. When I was a prospect it sucked to see crap that wasn't close to true and it did have an impact. Don't give me crap about "mental toughness" when it is the fans that are supposed to help support these young guys - not tear them down.
-
Wow, clearly he stole your GF or killed your dog - that or you simply are the least transparent troll in history. What incredible insight you have that no one else seems to. He is a kid. A kid who has immense raw talent of size, strength and speed who needs to be coached and developed and may become one helluva professional hockey player - or not - but a cancer? Lazy? Not sure what you do but I assume you were chosen for your job from thousands of people and that you are watched by thousands of people who judge your every move and question ever action.
-
All of the negative comments on this prospect, or any other, are totally valid as no one ever progresses, no one ever changes and no one ever takes a next step. Never happens. Once you are 18 you are set for life and if you are not an all-star by the time you are 19 or 20 it is over and time to move onto the next concept. Yup, that wraps up this discussion.
-
Yah, it sure messed up Bure, Forsberg, Sundin and many others. Even Rodin looked just fine and he played on one leg. Look, each individual player is just that - an individual. Jonathan may be a bust but he also may be a legitimate top 6 NHL player so why all the hyperbole? Canuck fans are odd - so negative and looking for excuses for failure. It is just a game and only one of 30ish teams ever wins it all and next year could be the Canucks' turn so relax and enjoy it.
-
I think you are confusing "high-intensity" with confidence and smarts. Some players think so hard, too hard, that they get indecisive and others lack confidence and it also leads to a delay in action. I don't think anyone gets to this level without sufficient intensity but I do think that what can differentiate players is a combination of ability to not overthink and to remain confident even if those around you (including your coach) are losing theirs. No idea why you would include Juolevi as all reports are he is about as smart and driven as any kid Canucks have had in org for a long while. Both the other players you are negative on seem to be similar - a tad cocky to perhaps coverup their lack of ability to think quickly and decisively and to cover up confidence issues. Who knows if they can overcome these issues - many don't but some do. However, to imply they cannot be intense is a tad out of whack with the reality of what it takes to play in the NHL.
-
wow, so little hockey knowledge. are you entirely new to the game?
-
Wow, what a lack of insight. This is a kid. This "kid" will grow mentally and physically more in the next 12 to 24 months than any other point in his life and to make sure proclamations now is insane. Development paths for Dmen is slower and less certain but you take a shot with drafting them by looking for potential that includes intelligence, physical projection and intangibles that range from toughness to quirks. In this case, the Canucks took a chance on a Dman who could have more upside than any they have ever don their colours but that could also end up having zero NHL games. The odds are certainly it will be in between but to say the upside is capped now is so pessimistic that clearly your glass half empty approach must make being a fan a tough thing.