wshdrvvn Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Sure he might get 11-13 minutes of ice time, but he'd get well over 20 minutes in the WHL.I still think the WHL (and WJC) would be better for his development next season. He can fine tune his offense (dominate), take on leadership roles on the Hitmen and Canada WJC team and mature, work on his defense and positioning (easier to do at the WHL level), and gain confidence. We also need to remember he was one of the youngest guys in his draft class so his +2 season is "earlier" than others (especially with time lost because of his injury). However, I am really interested to see what he looks like in training camp. I'm not really concerned about size/speed but rather his defence and positioning in pre-season games. I noticed watching the Hitmen that he often goes out of position for a hit, or to try and intercept a pass. At the WHL level he can get away with it because he is so much quicker than the others he can easily recover. I am curious to see if he becomes more risk adverse when starting at the NHL level. He would get more minutes in the dub but that can be a double edged sword. It can have an effect on a player to where they are taking shifts off and coasting because they can get away with it in junior. It's not an absolute, but certainly possible. To clarify, I'm just playing devils advocate here. I'm of the opinion he still has plenty to learn in junior hockey as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycho_Path Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) Freakin' reality? Ya because a center that was a primary piece in shutting down what will be a perennial all-star and won a memorial cup NEVER made an impact at the NHL level the year after... Edited July 23, 2015 by Psycho_Path Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tre Mac Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 That hit hilites vid was awesome. He nailed a future prospect in Tate Olsen too. Atleast i think he's a prospect. Anywhoo great showcase of his physicality. But one has To wonder if his body will be able to handle that on a nightly basis, especially his shoulders. Let's hope he sticks, I really believe another year in junior will be a waste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoKnows53 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Last October I remember a lot of CDC members wanting Horvat to go back to London for the season. Obviously they were wrong about that, don't judge too early on Virtanen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I don't really remember anybody saying Horvat should go back to LondonI did. Pretty much up until his 7th game with us I was saying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLocke Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I don't really remember anybody saying Horvat should go back to London Remember when horvat got 0 points in 5 ahl games? Everyone was saying to send him back to junior to learn offence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd. Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I don't really remember anybody saying Horvat should go back to London You wouldn't know how many elected Horvat to go back to junior.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_The_Schneid! Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 It was prob a 50/50 split between people on here wanting Horvat to go back Virtanen in my opinion would be less likely to be sent back to junior over Horvat He has an nhl body and excellent nhl speed Horvats knock was always his speed Horvat could go back to a memorial cup team with a top training and coaching staff Virtanen won't benefit much from going back to a poorly coached and loose systemed hitmen team Horvat plays center where virtanen plays wing A lot easier position to ease into the nhl Hence why I do believe virtanen will make the team and I will buy his jersey on his 10th game because he is going to be the most exciting prospect we've had in the modern era Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baumerman77 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 He would get more minutes in the dub but that can be a double edged sword. It can have an effect on a player to where they are taking shifts off and coasting because they can get away with it in junior. It's not an absolute, but certainly possible. To clarify, I'm just playing devils advocate here. I'm of the opinion he still has plenty to learn in junior hockey as well. Oh I agree. And personally I would like to see him traded to a different junior team. Often times he would play almost as if he were a center, dropping back in the D zone to get the puck and then carrying it through the neutral zone. I didn't like that too much. He really needs to play with a good play-making center to exploit his potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
on the cycle Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 For every question about Virtanen, there are many, many more questions about every other prospect in our cupboard. McCann. Is he strong enough for NHL duty? What's his peak if he does gain this strength? I see a 2C. Isn't he currently hurting? Demko. The hip surgery is concerning for a goaltender. That only increases his bust potential. Cole Cassels. The love the kid, but what's his upside? 3C? Typically bigger guys are there, but Andrew Shaw isn't huge. When's he NHL ready? CDC seems to think now, but is that actual? Isn't he rehabbing an injury? Shinkaruk. How long will he stew in the AHL? Don't hear much about top-6 duty for him on the Canucks, while Bärtschi gets a free spot? Is his speed and strength improving for NHL duty? Shouldn't we have drafted Theodore? Boeser. How long is he committed to college? He seems to think he's a power forward, but is he really? And shouldn't we have addressed our defense instead? Brisebois. Has bust written all over him. I mean the upside might be the last NHLer Brisebois, and Montreal couldn't wait to be rid of him. Shouldn't we have kept Lack instead? Zhukenov. Currently looks like a 12yr old, so how long until he's a man, let lone NHL-ready? Tryramkin. Is he ever going to come over from Russia? If when that happens is he anything more than a depth/AHL guy? He's a 3rd-pairing guy in Russia, is he not? Jordan Subban hasn't gained any noticable strength at all since we drafted him. Safe to say he won't become an NHL defenseman? If he still does, just how much sheltering will he need? Or is he actually a forward? Gaunce. Is he a winger now? Would've been better if he was a center. How's his foot-speed? His overall skill? Don't forget his 'hockey iq'. Hutton. What's up with him? He was supposed to be the best d-man we had, but he might not even be a defenseman. More like a converted forward. Is he just another failed experiment? Jensen. It was time for him to make the NHL last season, but instead the Canucks seem ready to give up on him. Why? Grenier. NHL time for him now? Or more AHL? Clock is ticking. Labate. Will he turn into anything? Corrado. Is he an legit NHLer yet? McNally. Why couldn't we hold onto him? Could you imagine if SJ turns him into a player? Yikes! Why is the holy frack did we draft Schroeder? Idiots bust alarms malfunctioning? You see, with all of these questions yet to be answered, I don't know why transforming Virtanen into Nylander or Ehlers would change much. Both those players have questions of their own. Is Nylander anything more than a playmaking power play specialist? He seems to be a ghost without the puck and only so-so with it. Certainly there's no Forsberg there. Is Ehlers going to be able to score like he did in the Q against NHL competion? Will he continue to dive a lot and become hated by NHL refs? We've seen a lot of undersized kids fail over the years, but then again Johnny Fraudreau is an all-star, so maybe the NHL will pave the way his success. Hip surgeries for goalie is like tommy johns surgery for pitchers... it's not a big deal. Lack had hip surgery and he got better. Demko already said that he feels more flexible than ever which is great for a butterfly goalie. Jordan Subban is a workout freak. If you watched the prospect camp videos he took down mackenzie stewart who is 6'4" and anywhere from 215-230(bad range, I know but that's what ive seen). I think Jordan will be fine if he gains another 5 pounds he'll be pretty sturdy at 190lbs+ at 5'9 thats very stocky. His strength when he's skating is fantastic and is very good at fend off and holding the puck(reminds me of how Burrows holds onto the puck). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guntrix Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 A banger? He is one of the better natural hitters I've ever seen and definitely the best hitter in the draft He absolutely launches guys You can't teach what he has He's going to have a high light reel in the nhl shortly and is going to bring a lot of energy to the team Oh yeah he's also the fastest skater in the draft Great. He can hit and he's fast. Let's take him at 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Great. He can hit and he's fast. Let's take him at 6. 45 goals as a 17 year old in the dub muchambo. All while not getting top minutes and playing behind older players. He's more than just skating and hitting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 45 goals as a 17 year old in the dub muchambo. All while not getting top minutes and playing behind older players. He's more than just skating and hitting. Nor should skating and hitting be forgotten. Or undervalued. It still contributes to the score sheet. As anyone who has played sports knows; a guy who is bigger, stronger, quicker & faster poses an extremely real challenge for opponents to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSnipeshow91 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 It was prob a 50/50 split between people on here wanting Horvat to go back Virtanen in my opinion would be less likely to be sent back to junior over Horvat He has an nhl body and excellent nhl speed Horvats knock was always his speed Horvat could go back to a memorial cup team with a top training and coaching staff Virtanen won't benefit much from going back to a poorly coached and loose systemed hitmen team Horvat plays center where virtanen plays wing A lot easier position to ease into the nhl Hence why I do believe virtanen will make the team and I will buy his jersey on his 10th game because he is going to be the most exciting prospect we've had in the modern era Horvat was ready mentally for the NHL. Can't say the same for Virtanen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bissurnette Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Horvat was ready mentally for the NHL. Can't say the same for Virtanen. LOL how the hell would you know where Virtanen is mentally?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_The_Schneid! Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Horvat was ready mentally for the NHL. Can't say the same for Virtanen. How do you know horvats state of mind? You have absolutely no way of judging that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSnipeshow91 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 (edited) How do you know horvats state of mind? You have absolutely no way of judging thatI'm not talking about his state of mind. His hockey IQ is better than Virtanen's hockey IQ. Edited July 24, 2015 by TheSnipeshow91 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSnipeshow91 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 LOL how the hell would you know where Virtanen is mentally?? Mentally as in processing the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_The_Schneid! Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 So in the nhl hockey IQ Beats Speed, Strength, and Shot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_The_Schneid! Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 So in the nhl hockey IQ Beats Speed, Strength, and Shot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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