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Jake Virtanen | #18 | RW


avelanch

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The thing with Virtanen is, him being a local prospect, is that people around here actually know of what some legit scouts and hockey people around here have been saying about him. I've talked with multiple sources who say that he was clearly one the best prospects in the WHL at the time of the draft and they've known he was going to be a special player from age 12. Was Kassian a 1st overall pick in his major junior league?

The comparison to Kassian is a bit off, even though they are both right-shooting wingers, as they are a different type of player, due to a big difference in speed. Kassian should be a guy who just goes to the net without the puck with authority and hammers guys like Lucic. So far he's been a dissappointment in that role as he thinks he's a playmaker who likes to dish off the puck early, usually killing off the chance for him to crash the net right away. Jake's speed affords him to be a lot more creative with his shifts. He's not expected to be a Lucic-type, but more of a Perry-type. Anyone with any hockey background can see the difference right away.

You may or may not have some sort of hockey expertise, but this isn't the first line of posts from you that make me think think you're just trolling, so...

Well said and thx for typing my post for me bud. ;p IMO, it kills the credibility of a "hockey guy" to make a zack/jake comparison. Two different styles and skillsets. I fully agree that a kassian/lucic and jake/Corey comparison is much more accurate. Wether either of them live up to their compatibles is another story. I think jake has all the intangibles needed to be a star one day. Edited by TheOgRook
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Well said and thx for typing my post for me bud. ;p IMO, it kills the credibility of a "hockey guy" to make a zack/jake comparison. Two different styles and skillsets. I fully agree that a kassian/lucic and jake/Corey comparison is much more accurate. Wether either of them live up to their compatibles is another story. I think jake has all the intangibles needed to be a star one day.

I liken him to Mark Recchi, Jeremy Roenick, Wendal Clarke or maybe even as Brick mentioned a similiar but smaller version of Lindros.

Too early to really say yet, but am very excited about this kid. As someone earlier mentioned that they haven't been this excited about one of our prospects in years, I too am almost giddy.

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JV has been playing 3rd man high from the beginning of the tourney. 4th line and on the 2nd line. I started to wonder if coaching thought his speed on the back check and his quick stick might close off the neutral zone. He intercepted a few USA passes and turned back up the ice nicely either by skate or pass. As a hitter he can play the body in the neutral zone as well.

If I was the USA coach I would have done exactly what the USA team did. Chatter and play CDN physically. CDN more likely to react by losing their cool which would help the USA play. It worked a little bit but Canada stop up well but did not go over the edge. JV would be a big target for this type of play and he used enough restraint.

So USA will play the Ruskies and likely it will be a CDN vs USA final. Swedes have looked good and could do someone in. If McDavid can get his game going Canada should win it all.

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JV has been playing 3rd man high from the beginning of the tourney. 4th line and on the 2nd line. I started to wonder if coaching thought his speed on the back check and his quick stick might close off the neutral zone. He intercepted a few USA passes and turned back up the ice nicely either by skate or pass. As a hitter he can play the body in the neutral zone as well.

If I was the USA coach I would have done exactly what the USA team did. Chatter and play CDN physically. CDN more likely to react by losing their cool which would help the USA play. It worked a little bit but Canada stop up well but did not go over the edge. JV would be a big target for this type of play and he used enough restraint.

So USA will play the Ruskies and likely it will be a CDN vs USA final. Swedes have looked good and could do someone in. If McDavid can get his game going Canada should win it all.

This is exactly what I said, having Jake there pretty much eliminates any possibility of an odd man rush the other way and he's got a laser so

If he does manage to get the puck he can wife it from the slot

It's almost like jake is being told, do what you can on the rush but let those two work the boards, you jus worry about the counter attack

He's gradually imporved as games have gone on, he saves his best for the later stages which is good

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Before we all go and rip the pants off Virtanen after every game....consider the fact that even the two next superstars in the league (Eichel and McDavid) have been wildly inconsistent and McDavid in particular has been off. Missing passes, falling down, losing face-offs, tunnel vision at times. Watching the juniors year after year it really is a tournament that 19 year olds dominate. It's incredible the difference it can make in some players.

This my first time watching and yeah, no doubt this will be a great experience for Jake. Little doubt he will be back next year, and be ready to take on a leadership role with McD, Domi, Lazar, and probably Reinhart and others likely full-time with their NHL teams.

Good game for jake

He was in all u.s"s heads

Constant battles after the whistle and has yet to take a penalty in the tourney yet

Other then offsetting penalties for sticking up for lazar

Loved the one play where a player tried to hit him and bounced right off him and got the worse of it

He finished his checks to hurt the the other player that's for sure

As far as his line goes I don't see the hype on mcdavid

Didn't see it last juniors and I don't see it now

Tries to do too much himself and hasn't shown me he can shoot the puck with accuracy

Virtanen set him up with a tap in during the first period

Wide open in front and missed

It's gonna be a good draft for the canucks looks like there's a lot of decent players that will be available

Hurt (so they know they got hit) yes, but to injure no. At least that's the impression I get. He plays tough but not dirty, physical but clean, aggressive but not retaliatory or cheap-shotting.

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I must be th only one who thinks that JV with McD and Lazar has been an excellent line with good chemistry. They spend most shifts in the o-zone and when they aren't, they come back defensively. On top of that, JV brings some protection for McD

We are all alone...no I don't think so, lot's of us have eyes it's just a disproportionate amount of poster's here don't seem to know how to operate them.

Virtanen's behind the back pass to Crouse, back when Jack was on the forth line, would have been buried by McDavid or Lazar and Jake would have buried any of the passes that either didn't get through or weren't sent from those 2.

Jake breaks out next game.

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This is exactly what I said, having Jake there pretty much eliminates any possibility of an odd man rush the other way and he's got a laser so

If he does manage to get the puck he can wife it from the slot

It's almost like jake is being told, do what you can on the rush but let those two work the boards, you jus worry about the counter attack

He's gradually imporved as games have gone on, he saves his best for the later stages which is good

Jake intercepted a pass or had a takeaway every shift, he is playing the high spot same as Horvat because he can see the play developing and get to the spot to steal the puck.

Jake may push for a spot next year...what's missing?....

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I'm with Ban TSN.

Can you imagine having to play against this bad a55 in a 7 game series? Every game he destroys 3 or 4 guys, catches players with seemingly ease on the back check and has a few rushes where he has defenseman in desperation trying to deal with his speed and strength.

His cycle game and puck protection needs work for sure.

Before we all go and rip the pants off Virtanen after every game....consider the fact that even the two next superstars in the league (Eichel and McDavid) have been wildly inconsistent and McDavid in particular has been off. Missing passes, falling down, losing face-offs, tunnel vision at times. Watching the juniors year after year it really is a tournament that 19 year olds dominate. It's incredible the difference it can make in some players.

I'm not really a fan of Jake on the left side on his line. I would have deployed him on the right with Petan and moved Fabbri up. Seems Lazar is a lock for top 6 and rightly so as he has the resume and experience along with being our captain. Petan and Virtanen on the third would be deadly. On the bright side the 3rd period showed well for the current trio. Missed 3 or 4 really good chances and chemistry improved as did McDavid's and Virtanen's games. Gonna be exciting going forward.

Go Canada Go!

I agree jake is better on the right side for recieving passes but at least he's playing on one of the top lines now.
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Jake stole the puck, got it to McDavid ( I think it was) and then it went in off Lazar ... so yes Jake should have had and assist.

He just about scored a couple of times and if 2 other passes had got to him wide open in the slot he would have surely potted one of them.

That was a blatant assist for virtanen I don't know why they didn't give him one it's pretty goofy honestly. Oh well
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Jake intercepted a pass or had a takeaway every shift, he is playing the high spot same as Horvat because he can see the play developing and get to the spot to steal the puck.

Jake may push for a spot next year...what's missing?....

He plays like Taylor Hall in the defensive zone. Like did you watch that segment where they tracked his movements in re defensive zone, Jake does the same thing

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He plays like Taylor Hall in the defensive zone. Like did you watch that segment where they tracked his movements in re defensive zone, Jake does the same thing

Pretty much every young player has to learn how to play in their own zone when they come into the league, Jake is no different.

Good coaching can correct any mistakes he's making.

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I liken him to Mark Recchi, Jeremy Roenick, Wendal Clarke or maybe even as Brick mentioned a similiar but smaller version of Lindros.

Too early to really say yet, but am very excited about this kid. As someone earlier mentioned that they haven't been this excited about one of our prospects in years, I too am almost giddy.

I, like most here on cdc, are long time Canuck fans. I cannot remember a player we drafted that I was more excited about before they ever played an NHL game. Bure was easy to love 9nce he played.

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  • -Vintage Canuck- changed the title to Jake Virtanen | #18 | RW
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