Canucks1219 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Here is a Vancouver Sun article from a few days ago that I noticed hadn't been posted. Iain MacIntyre: Virtanen hopes Canucks will keep welcome mat out Three hundred thousand people have viewed the dressing-room video of Vancouver Canuck coach Willie Desjardins welcoming rookie Bo Horvat to the National Hockey League last November. When Jake Virtanen watched it, he saw himself. Horvat, the Canucks’ 2013 first-round draft pick, made the team at age 19. Virtanen, the 2014 top pick, turns 19 in August and wants to play in the NHL next fall. “I saw that video of Bo making the team,” Virtanen, the winger from Abbotsford, said before his Calgary Hitmen faced the Regina Pats on Sunday. “My dad actually sent it to me and it gave me a little more motivation to make the team next year. That would be pretty cool for Bo and me to be there next year. He’s a great guy and I’d love to be on the same team.” Almost certainly, he will be. It’s a matter of when. Canuck general manager Jim Benning said two weeks ago that it could be next fall because Virtanen has shown he should be ready to challenge for an NHL spot at 19. Just like Horvat. “That’s our hope,” Benning said Sunday during a scouting trip to the Quebec League. “We’re hoping Jake has a real good summer working out and getting in real good shape and comes to training camp next year like Bo did this year. Have a good camp and then we’ll see where we’re at with him.” Virtanen’s latest test was the world junior championship over the holidays, when he made one of the most talented Under-20 squads Canada has produced — a team that went 7-0 and outscored opponents 39-9. Benning made his Virtanen projection right after Canada beat Russia 5-4 in the gold-medal game. “It’s pretty cool,” Virtanen said. “To have him say that, that’s pretty encouraging for me to push for a spot next year. That is definitely my goal. They’ve got a lot of good players. But I feel if I put in the same work to make the NHL that all those guys did — just work hard and play my game — I think I’ll be good.” At 6-1 and 212 pounds, Virtanen, like Horvat, already has an NHL body and skates better than his future teammate. Horvat, however, came to the Canucks from junior with a conscientious, mature game that has allowed him to play every night as Vancouver’s fourth-line centre. Since the Canucks made room for Horvat — Desjardins admitted back in November that he was wary initially of carrying a 19-year-old — why wouldn’t they do the same for Virtanen, especially since Vancouver is desperate for more power forwards with net-front presence? Virtanen is so strong and fleet he might even have challenged for NHL playing time this season had he not been recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, which kept him out of Canuck pre-season games and delayed his first Western Hockey League appearance until late October. Virtanen sat out Calgary’s 4-1 home loss Saturday to the Victoria Royals due to a bruised shoulder, unrelated to his surgery, but was back in the lineup on Sunday. His impressive world junior performance further elevated Virtanen’s standing. “Most of the guys on Team Canada, they go back to their club teams and are goal-scorers or playmakers,” Virtanen said of the experience. “I was definitely one of those guys who had to change my role to make the team. I wasn’t going to go there as an 18-year-old and make the team just putting up wicked points. I had to find another way to try to make the team. I know I did a pretty good job of playing physical and being that guy who can make room for skill players. “I also tried to make plays, so I wasn’t just focused on that one thing. I wanted to bring out my full game.” Virtanen began the tournament on Canada’s fourth line, but played his way up the lineup. He finished with four points and demonstrated the physical edge that led Benning to select him sixth-overall in June, making Virtanen the Canucks’ first B.C.-born-and-raised top pick since Cam Neely in 1983. “I was pretty much everywhere ... just mixing up and seeing where the coaches wanted me to fit in,” Virtanen said. “I learned a lot about chemistry. I definitely want to bring that game I had at the world juniors back to Calgary.” Virtanen said it took him at least a month after his return from surgery to feel completely comfortable again. He had four goals and seven points in his final five games before leaving the Hitmen for Team Canada in December. Virtanen scored in his first game back with Calgary. After scoring 45 times in 71 games last season, Virtanen had 10 goals and 25 points for the Hitmen in 23 games this year. Both he and Calgary coach Mark French expect a big second half. Saturday’s loss left the Hitmen at 23-17-5. “Coming off the shoulder surgery and not playing in the first month of the season was tough for him, and for us, to be honest with you,” French said. “We’re really hoping to ride the momentum of the success at the world juniors. As mentally and physically taxing as that tournament was, he was so excited to get back here and see his teammates. That was really refreshing to see from our standpoint. “I think there’s certainly a mental reset after a tournament of that high quality and intensity. But he’s going to be a huge part of what we’re doing here.” French, who left a head coaching job in the Kontinental Hockey League to take over the Hitmen this season, said he knows this may be Virtanen’s final winter in junior hockey. “In the back of your mind, yeah, I think so,” French said. “And in some respects, you’re hoping for that because if that’s the case, then maybe the coaching staff here feels a small victory in helping him (make the NHL). But I think the thing that is so nice to see with Jake is he is in the moment. He values his experience here and values what can be done here before moving on to bigger and better things.” 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Thnaks 1219 That article sure makes you the kid. We've got some quality young prospects coming up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaudette Celly Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 At 6-1 and 212 pounds, Virtanen, like Horvat, already has an NHL body and skates better than his future teammate. Jake's gained 5lbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outsiders Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Jake's gained 5lbs? looks like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger-Hearted Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Virtanen has exactly the same maturity as Horvat. Accepting the role that he was given at the WJC, that's impressive. While I can see BoHo being a future Canucks captain, I most definitely see JV wearing an 'A' and being BoHo's right-hand man in the leadership department. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken kaniff Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Slot him in to replace Vrbata after next season. Sedin-Sedin-Virtanen line would be awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derp... Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Virtanen has exactly the same maturity as Horvat. Accepting the role that he was given at the WJC, that's impressive. While I can see BoHo being a future Canucks captain, I most definitely see JV wearing an 'A' and being BoHo's right-hand man in the leadership department. He's Bieksa as a forward though. I hope he's on the team when juice is still there so he can learn how to bring the same intensity and passion juice has as well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bissurnette Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 He's Bieksa as a forward though. I hope he's on the team when juice is still there so he can learn how to bring the same intensity and passion juice has as well. Exactly. This is definitely premature but I would probably rather give the C to Virtanen than Horvat. Virtanen brings more emotion and that is needed in the playoffs. Horvat is always calm, cool and collected but sometimes you need more intensity rather than a level head. That said, you never know how things will pan out 4 or 5 years down the road... they may both change their demeanor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 Exactly. This is definitely premature but I would probably rather give the C to Virtanen than Horvat. Virtanen brings more emotion and that is needed in the playoffs. Horvat is always calm, cool and collected but sometimes you need more intensity rather than a level head. That said, you never know how things will pan out 4 or 5 years down the road... they may both change their demeanor. Captain serious in Chicago would beg to differ. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd. Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Captain serious in Chicago would beg to differ. I'd be happy if Horvat or Virtanen get the captaincy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JamesB Posted January 22, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2015 I'd be happy if Horvat or Virtanen get the captaincy. Maybe I am too critical but isn't is just a bit early to talk about whether Virtanen or Horvat gets to be captain of the Canucks given that Virtanen has played 0 games in the NHL so far and Horvat has played less than half a season. Both are very good prospects, I agree, but this just seems a bit early. Kind of like planning a wedding after a first date. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post avelanch Posted January 22, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2015 Maybe I am too critical but isn't is just a bit early to talk about whether Virtanen or Horvat gets to be captain of the Canucks given that Virtanen has played 0 games in the NHL so far and Horvat has played less than half a season. Both are very good prospects, I agree, but this just seems a bit early. Kind of like planning a wedding after a first date. My wife did that, and we've been married for over 10 years 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucks Curse Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 My wife did that, and we've been married for over 10 years You must be quite the catch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c00kies Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 You must be quite the catch. I'd bet she was quite the catch and he was smart enough to reel in the line 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFCanuck Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 My wife did that, and we've been married for over 10 years That would scare the hell out of me unless you knew her for a while beforehand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delta76 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Maybe I am too critical but isn't is just a bit early to talk about whether Virtanen or Horvat gets to be captain of the Canucks given that Virtanen has played 0 games in the NHL so far and Horvat has played less than half a season. Both are very good prospects, I agree, but this just seems a bit early. Kind of like planning a wedding after a first date. My wife did that, and we've been married for over 10 years Lol both get a +1/ that was funny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd. Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I'd bet she was quite the catch and he was smart enough to reel in the line LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamJamIam Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 My wife did that, and we've been married for over 10 years Sounds more like a hostage situation than a marriage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Does she hurt yiu avalanche. CDC is a safe place. You can tell us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amish Rake Fighter Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) Sounds more like a hostage situation than a marriage she was just being romantic....like Kathy Bates in 'Misery' Edited January 23, 2015 by Amish Rake Fighter 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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