J.I.A.H.N Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 These are Virtanen's international statistics (listed on Eliteprospects): *Canada Pacific U17 WHC-17 5GP 5g 2a 7pts 8PIM **Canada U18 WJC-18 7GP 3g 3a 6pts 10PIM +2 *tied for second in team scoring **tied for first in team scoring EDIT: I guess I'll leave his Ivan Hlinka stats too: Canada U18 Hlinka Memorial 5GP 0g 1a 1pts 4PIM -2 Hey I am old....give me a break! I did pretty good......1 for 2.......lol I will take that as a friendly point.....good one at that! I wonder who his line mates were for those 2 U-18 tournaments? It would be interesting to know........was he injured in the Hlinka Tournament..........just questions Thanks for pointing it out Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I don't know about that one elite talent thing. By Orr's philosophy, Mason Raymond should have been a star. I'd actually argue it's less about the pure talent and more about the will to be the absolute best. Mason Raymond was one of the NHL's best at falling down with nobody around him though. Elite. Natural talent trumps will 10 times out of 10. A hack can practice 20,000 hours and will still not come even close to being as good as a person with the natural talent required to perform at an world-elite level. We know this because of all the aspiring hockey players in this country over the years that do not amount to squat even though their will to become great was not an issue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.I.A.H.N Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I don't know about that one elite talent thing. By Orr's philosophy, Mason Raymond should have been a star. I'd actually argue it's less about the pure talent and more about the will to be the absolute best. I would agree that that is the deciding factor.........it is always the deciding factor..........the one that gets up over the one that stays down.........always.........but when that is equal the others, apply......I don't think that the ones that stay down ever make it,,,,not too often anyways! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.I.A.H.N Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Mason Raymond was one of the NHL's best at falling down with nobody around him though. Elite. Natural talent trumps will 10 times out of 10. A hack can practice 20,000 hours and will still not come even close to being as good as a person with the natural talent required to perform at an world-elite level. We know this because of all the aspiring hockey players in this country over the years that do not amount to squat even though their will to become great was not an issue. That is a funny point that can be argued politely.............I remember 2 brothers that played Jr. A together, the older one had all the talent and was drafted by Buffalo, the other was tough as nails and never quit.......the first one had a drink of coffee, the second one had was drafted by Washington Capitals........played 11 years......albeit a goon.....but still 11 years, and always got up.....his brother was very good....but............In the NHL even the talented one's get up........in the NHL we are just seeing the cream.....even they get divided into different talent groups.......at the end.......elite is elite.....Virtanen is not McDavid elite........I seem to be argueing against myself...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 That is a funny point that can be argued politely.............I remember 2 brothers that played Jr. A together, the older one had all the talent and was drafted by Buffalo, the other was tough as nails and never quit.......the first one had a drink of coffee, the second one had was drafted by Washington Capitals........played 11 years......albeit a goon.....but still 11 years, and always got up.....his brother was very good....but............In the NHL even the talented one's get up........in the NHL we are just seeing the cream.....even they get divided into different talent groups.......at the end.......elite is elite.....Virtanen is not McDavid elite........I seem to be argueing against myself...lol I think this was all about at exactly what point the first one had the drink of coffee. Vital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdatb Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Virtanen is a virtual lock. Hopefully Ritchie gets cut though. I don't like his playing style at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaudette Celly Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 6 points in 6 periods against the CIS all-stars, it really isn't a big feat. And how'd all the others do? Right -- Nylander and Ehlers would have done much better... How many points did Dal Colle have? What if we had had him and not Virtanen, how much would this board be blowing up right now, with why didn't we take Virtanen comments? Local kid physical and can score? Exactly. Barely-18 kid plays big, scores big, impresses everyone, and yet there's incessant hand-wringing. Could end up with McDavid and there'd be complaints about him not being physical enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.I.A.H.N Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I think this was all about at exactly what point the first one had the drink of coffee. Vital. No, I have seen alot of nhl players and played against more than a few, the guys that make it, are different by way of drive you can knock a light one down and they will be swing their stick at you as they are falling, the others just lay there Move up a league and the same thing happens When they get to the top......everyone gets up, then talent becomes the defining factor.....seen it so many times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarGirl Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I love how he's trying to connect with everyone Yeah, I like how he communicates well with others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 No, I have seen alot of nhl players and played against more than a few, the guys that make it, are different by way of drive you can knock a light one down and they will be swing their stick at you as they are falling, the others just lay there Move up a league and the same thing happens When they get to the top......everyone gets up, then talent becomes the defining factor.....seen it so many times I was just being stupid. Who were the brothers in that post though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outsiders Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Anyone think Virtanen will make the canucks in 2015-2016? 3rd line Higgins-Richardson-Virtanen?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 It really depends if he makes the 15-16 season on alot of things, if Vrbata is still on the 1st line, if Higgins and Burrows are replaced or if they keep their game up. On the 3rd line if Burrows and Higgins do get replaced then they are likely going to the 3rd line which leaves no room for Virtanen. Also, Shinkaruk and Jensen will be fighting for jobs in the top 9. Alot of different situations possible, I'm going with no though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messier's_elbow Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Anyone think Virtanen will make the canucks in 2015-2016? 3rd line Higgins-Richardson-Virtanen?? it's possible but I'm thinking 2016-17 is much more likely. I wish he was in a better program then the hitmen though. That actually might help him get to the NHL faster if Benning is worried Calgary isn't teaching a good system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bure_Pavel Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Anyone think Virtanen will make the canucks in 2015-2016? I think he will get 9 games to prove he can stick, if not hopefully either calgary gets some more talent to surround virtanen and Sanhiem or he gets traded 3rd line Higgins-Richardson-Virtanen?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamJamIam Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Virtanen is a virtual lock. Hopefully Ritchie gets cut though. I don't like his playing style at all Ritchie is Bernier 2.0. But in the juniors, he's a solid addition if he doesn't take too many dumb penalties. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) I don't see Virtanen making our team next year, I think he will take some time to develop. But as far as the WJ's go, when things get going I don't see him playing on a 4th line, he's a goal scorer & needs to be used as such, I think they are just taking this time to look at other possibilities, but I still think Virtanen will be used in a top 6 role by the time the tourney roles around Ritchie is Bernier 2.0. But in the juniors, he's a solid addition if he doesn't take too many dumb penalties. Ehhh I don't see that at all. He's faster, more aggressive and more talented than Bernier. Edited December 16, 2014 by Smashian Kassian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messier's_elbow Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Ritchie is Bernier 2.0. But in the juniors, he's a solid addition if he doesn't take too many dumb penalties. Ritchie is a good skater for his size. He kind of reminds me of kassian. All the tools but lacks maturity/drive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 Mason Raymond was one of the NHL's best at falling down with nobody around him though. Elite. Natural talent trumps will 10 times out of 10. A hack can practice 20,000 hours and will still not come even close to being as good as a person with the natural talent required to perform at an world-elite level. We know this because of all the aspiring hockey players in this country over the years that do not amount to squat even though their will to become great was not an issue. yeah but talent only go so far. talent without will gives you wellwood... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snizzle_ Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Ritchie is also a year older than Virtanen and a year more developed. So happy we took Jake instead of Ritchie. I agree with the Kassian comparisons for Ritchie but Virtanen also tends to float alot without the puck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ronthecivil Posted December 17, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 17, 2014 So Virtanen is looking like he will make a deep team Canada as an 18 year old and there's STILL some people tossing themselves over the bridges with this pick? What's a local power forward got to do to win over the crowd around here? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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