canucklehead44

Folino - 2nd round pick Ritchie - Crazy package deal. 5th overall + Hutton + 2nd/Virtanen/Gaunce for Ritchie + Vatanen. This means they can protect Silfverberg, so it becomes 5th overall + Hutton + 2nd/Virtanen/Gaunce + Silfverberg for Ritchie + Vatanen + Manson Reaves - 3rd round pick Wilson - 2nd round pick + 3rd round pick Kane - swap of firsts + Granlund/Baer + CBJ 2nd Mackenzie - 4th round pick

I think where Vancouver is now we should let Miller walk and pick up a cap dump goalie and try to eek out some extra value, even if it is a late pick or B prospect. Lack, Niemi, Lehtonen, Halak, Fleury. I think Lehtonen or Niemi would be the obvious choice. Then we can put Markstrom as the 1A. Personally I'd love to get Lack back.

Canucks fans ragged on him a lot, but he had the same number of points his first year as Loui Eriksson. I thought he was actually pretty good his second season in Vancouver

I see two definitions of a bust. One is a player who fails to play at least 200 NHL games, the other is a player who fails to live up to expectations. Stefan for example had a decent NHL career and finished 15th in his draft class in scoring. He consistently finished around 4/5 on the Thrashers in scoring. However, as a first overall pick he is seen as a huge bust. What were the expectations for Jake? Ballpark of 25 goals, 20 assists per year? 1st/2nd line tweener? Production isn't everything, I just don't see him hitting those levels if he hasn't been able to do it in the AHL. If Jake were drafted 26th instead of 6th I think we would be fine seeing him turn into 3rd/4th line tweener. But if he can barely crack 10 goals per year it is hard to not use the B label for a #6 pick. Too early to call it yet, but there is certainly reason to be concerned. Long story short, Craig Button hit the nail on the head ranking him 43rd overall. He has the potential and the upside, but his results fall more in line with the 2nd rounders than the 1st rounders.

Don't forget that draft was supposed to be very bad, and it ended up being quite good. Clutterbuck in his draft also finished 3rd on his team in scoring with very similar numbers to Jake - slightly higher PPG and lower GPG. Virtanen's ceiling was certainly higher than Clutterbuck's though. Clutterbuck has pretty much reached his ceiling. A comparison I used was if Jake turned into a Clutterbuck 2.0 he will still be a fan favourite. If Ehlers or Nylander we to become a Mason Raymond type player they would be despised (even though Raymond has better career numbers than Clutterbuck). Ehlers and Nylander turned into best case. First 1st line players who still have potential to stretch into the mid-high 70s. Virtanen is turning into worst case, unless he really brings his game up a couple of levels next season.

Jake's rookie year was unspectacular but it was certainly something to build off of, especially his play after the WJC. I expected him to go to the AHL and score around 25 goals, 20 assists, similar numbers to Darren Archibald. Not exactly light the world on fire but show the offensive potential of a 6th overall pick. I still think he will be an NHL player, but likely in the bottom six. I'd be happy if he turned into a "Physical 15" 3rd liner, similar to guys like Torres, Cooke, were for us. Even at the draft, I saw Virtanen becoming a Cal Clutterbuck type player. I expected him to bust as a top six scorer, but more than make up for it with his speed and hitting. Maybe not a great pick at 6th but a valuable nhl player nonetheless.

I was really high on Goldobin at the draft, would love to see him prove me right Posted April 19, 2014 · Report post Goldobin is ranked 26th by ISS, he could potentially fall to 36th. I think he will end up being the steal of the draft. High end talent on a terrible team.

I don't think the issue is Jake's NHL rookie point totals. The issue is the points he put up in the AHL this year. Even if he put up Dal Colle numbers I wouldn't be so concerned, but right now it looks like his offensive upside is limited. I still think he can turn into a pretty good bottom 6 energy guy.

Me too. Actual prospects going between the two, less Megnas and Chaputs, although Chaput isn't too old

I think he should start in the AHL, see how he does. If he isn't next in line for a call-up maybe jets back to Sweden and tries again next year, but I would hate to see him bolt straight away.

I agree, I think Gaunce is actually the most underrated player in the Canucks system. The kid is a beast defensively, and he has the tools to eventually contribute offensively especially if he gets linemates better than Chaput, Skille, Megna. I know the organization is pushing him to wing but I think he is more valuable as a centre.

I think he is a pretty good hockey player overall. Also his first year in Boston was just as bad with 10 goals. Sure he picked up more assists but that Boston team also scored more. Solid two-way game and can complement the right set of players offensively.

Agreed. This is absolutely mental. I am really pulling for Jake but YIKES, 19 points in 75 career AHL games is just not acceptable for a 6th overall pick. Especially when you consider 2/3 top scorers were in the ECHL last year, and Grenier who is again the leading scorer who got completely shunned out of ice time in the NHL playing just 19 games this year. Jake should be a lot better than these guys if he is going to be a top or even middle six NHL player. While I still think his speed, physicality, and skill set are good enough to at least carry on the fourth line I really hope he becomes at least a physical 15 for us like the role Torres played the year he was in Vancouver.

His draft year totals were great. I figured he was way undersized plus an over-ager. Instead he is 5'11 and a month younger than Ehlers. He was ranked 31st in the CSS rankings as well.

I suggested they send him to the Finnish league last year, as it would enable him to play physical against men but in a lower league than the NHL (as he couldn't play in the AHL). The AHL is the best spot for him next season.

It will be interesting to see where he can fit in the lineup. Boeser's game (and I mean this as a compliment) reminds me a lot of Anson Carter. Same size, RW with a RH shot, and just that pure goal scorers instinct. Not the flashy high end stickhandling, or speed, but just that ability to read the play so well to be in the right place to bury the puck in close. Both players can pass and sort of straddle between a power forward and finesse game. Carter was also a big time goal scorer in US college hockey. The Sedins aren't the same players they were back then, but Boeser could be a really good fit on that line. And the way that Baer and Horvat play, I also think Goldobin will compliment their game well. Also in case that sounds like an insult, Carter finished 6th in his entire draft year for goals

Schroeder faced a combination of bad development and injuries. His +1 draft year in I remember reading there were issues with the coach at University of Minnesota. His offensive totals cratered 40%. When a player's numbers drop after getting drafted that is a bad sign. Fast forward to the AHL and he gets hit with injury his first year, and then moves to a Chicago Wolves team more interested in winning than developing players. Eventually he makes the NHL and has a decent initial showing. Next year is his chance to make it full time and he injuries himself blocking a shot, and was on that strange torts team. Gets stuck on the 4th line. The player we picked on draft day looked promising but everything went downhill. I sort of see that with Jake as well.

For points/60 minutes he is ranked between Cramarossa and Skille. He has the second best corsi behind Brendan Gaunce. Obviously for these two guys a good corsi number is not translating into offense! The way I describe Eriksson's play this year, is that he looks like more a good 2 million dollar player than a bad 6 million dollar player.

He took a huge step backwards this year but still - we are tanking anyway - would love to see his toughness and face punching talents in the lineup.

I love his nickname "Bulldog". That is what he reminds me of as he is short and strong. If a fourth line is only playing 7 or 8 minutes per night it is so useful having Biega in the lineup to move back to D if there is an inury. Playing with 5 D is tough, 4 D is horrible which we have seen a few times. He certainly carries his weight in that 4th line winger spot, with the added insurance I like it. I thought Pedan would have been perfect for that role as well because he also brings a size and fighting element.

Very different type of player. Wellwood was actually a pretty good 3rd line centre and was a beast in the faceoff circle.

To be fair to Grenier he has lead the Comets in scoring two years straight. But of course 19 minutes is more than enough time for Willie to decide to never give the guy a legit shot in the NHL.

I would say the best comparable is Jay McClement.

It was a mistake to play him in the NHL last season. Another year in junior, with two full seasons in Utica would have been best to allow him to mature. Too young for that level of responsibility and money. Some guys have the maturity to handle it (Horvat), but Virtanen seems like your typical bro/meathead type. Not a bad dude but does not strike me to have a high level of professionalism & maturity. Also playing in his home town probably didn't help.