Jake Virtanen | #18 | RW

[Realtor Rod]

Anyone?

[Canorth]

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Edited September 26, 2015 by Canorth

[48MPHSlapShot]

Scored a nice goal tonight. Looking good.

[Edlerberry]

beauty

[Jiggs50]

And they say he ain't ready...

[Alflives]

Got a link to back up your assertion there, Fluffy?

I love this forum. You guys are the best!

I don't know how to make links, but if you listen to the Leaf's home radio broadcast, you will hear the play by play guy refer to Nylander as "Wee Willie".

[73 Percent]

My uncle and cousins are the biggest leaf homers around. They wanted Jake or Ritchie.

I am surrounded by leaf fans. They are impressed on their early returns on this kid.

[Realtor Rod]

I am surrounded by leaf fans. They are impressed on their early returns on this kid.

I don't think he makes the team. I think he will be a good player. I like Marner as well.

[48MPHSlapShot]

Jake just seems lost out there, never seems to be in the right spot.

Trade him for a bag of pucks!!!

[uselessstats]

It was a nice shot, nothing more, nothing less. (if thats what you are referring to)

Well uh ya. That's how some people score goals in this league. Imagine the oooohs and aaaaahs if Nylander had casually walked in and picked a corner like that.

[Vicky]

Nice shot for the goal but he made a few nice passes as well. I thought he had a fairly strong game.

[on the cycle]

Looks like he is ready for the NHL. He was very good in Utica and in the youngstars tournament. I think he'll make the team, he has every tool the canucks needed last year ( Shot, Speed, Physicality).

[Nave]

That release is sick.

His positioning could better, but he's smart in terms of when to hit and when not to. Doesn't hit in the numbers or get caught behind the play after one. More a question of knowing where to be.

[logic]

[MoneypuckOverlord]

He's exactly as advertised. Not sure what the haters are crying about.

[messier's_elbow]

Not sure about that. A lot of people wanted Nylander, especially after his performance at the combine. People love calling him soft because he has the face of a 5 year old. He was probably the most well-conditioned athlete at the combine though, with incredible leg strength.

You are dead on with your last sentence though. Drafting Virtanen, who I'm thrilled to have, seemed more of a 'We're taking the player who will address our new philosophy' rather than 'We're taking the BPA'.

I won't lie. I wanted nylander after the combine but my second choice was jake and he's playing quite well. You guys are dead on saying it's all coaching now. He needs to stay up here. Hitmen play sloppy jr hockey.

[messier's_elbow]

If we had a crystal ball and knew that Lucic would more than likely end up as a Canuck, does that change who we would have taken at 6?

Nope the more goons the better. Well, talented goons anyways.

[messier's_elbow]

Whatever makes u sleep better at night. We didn't pick the BPA and that's the fact of the matter. It was very obvious at the time, and now with hindsight it's not even debatable. If there were to be a redraft done at this point, the only people picking Jake in the top ten of last years draft are CDC homers. He's tracking very similarly to Raffi Torres who ironically was taken 5th overall. That's not to say the Jake won't be a good player in his own right. He just isn't projecting to be the type of player you look for offensively at 6th overall.

Lol at your tracking. You pulled this out your ass.

[Ghostsof1915]

Seems to me Virtanen is the only guy who can score on our team.

But hey, pre-season.

[uselessstats]

That was an NHL quality goal Jake scored. Beautiful release, almost 'flicked' it so as to disguise the release point. People who have frequently suggested all Jake does is hit and that we wasted a high pick on an energy player should take note of that goal. It's the kind of goal that you'd see from Daniel Sedin or Kesler, not Hansen or Higgins.