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Jake Virtanen | #18 | RW


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Different players score their goals in different ways.

You could argue some elite players don't need to have high hockey IQ to score the goals they do because they make up for it in their physical abilities.

I would argue Ovechkin and Stamkos don't have elite hockey IQ when compared to Crosby or Giroux, but they make up for it by being physical beasts. Dynamic skating and wicked slap shots are all you need to score goals, you don't have to be an elite passer, slick dangler, or a master at the cycle.

You need to be able to find the soft spots on the ice, which Virtanen does okay, but not well. An example of someone who does it extremely well is Boeser.

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He may have being driving the play but he is no Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Tavares ETC.

My definition of elite is top 10 in the league

Edit here is my top 10 in no specific order

Crosby

Tavares

Stamkos

Ovi

Malkin

Tarasenko

Seguin

Karlsson

Johnson

Dats

Even though over the last 3 seasons, Kessel is 9th overall in points?

Nah, not elite at all.

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/seasons/last-3-nhl-seasons-players-stats.html

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I would like you to show me a 40 goal scoring, first line winger that doesn't have elite offensive awareness/hockey IQ.

There is a laundry list of players with mediocre hockey IQ that have played well with the Sedins. It's like playing with Steve Nash in his prime--you do not necessarily see the pass coming, but know to stay on your toes. I'm just saying that spending some time with them on the ice would help him learn the cycle, which IS one of the weakest parts of his game.

You're conflating the risk of not becoming a 1st line player with the risk of not having an NHL career at all.

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There is a laundry list of players with mediocre hockey IQ that have played well with the Sedins. It's like playing with Steve Nash in his prime--you do not necessarily see the pass coming, but know to stay on your toes. I'm just saying that spending some time with them on the ice would help him learn the cycle, which IS one of the weakest parts of his game.

You're conflating the risk of not becoming a 1st line player with the risk of not having an NHL career at all.

I guess I probably should rephrase the point I'm trying to make.

If you put Jake on a line with a centre like McCann or Horvat, who will both be pretty good, two way centre men, he won't be an elite scorer. In order for Jake to be an elite scorer in this league, he would need to play with an elite playmaking centreman. Jake doesn't have the offensive ability to be "the guy" on a first line in the NHL. However, he would be a very good complement to an elite playmaking centre.

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Even though over the last 3 seasons, Kessel is 9th overall in points?

Nah, not elite at all.

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/seasons/last-3-nhl-seasons-players-stats.html

Points has nothing to do with having Elite hockey IQ. Hockey IQ is your ability to create scoring chances from nothing and make you linemates better, Kessel doesn't have either of these qualities at an ELITE level.

Also using points as way of evaluating a players hockey IQ isn't a strong arguement at all. Infact some of the names under Kessel (Kane, Dats ETC) definitely have a higher Hockey IQ than Kessel. Your proof also doesn't account for injuries or for a players PPG over that period of time.

PPG he is 15th

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/seasons/last-3-nhl-seasons-players-stats.html

52nd in PPG last year

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/seasons/2014-15-nhl-players-stats.html

22nd over the last 2 season.

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/seasons/last-2-nhl-seasons-players-stats.html

Last 4 Seasons 15th

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/seasons/last-4-nhl-seasons-players-stats.html

Last 5 season 18th

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/seasons/last-5-nhl-seasons-players-stats.html

His point producing has been in a decline over the last 3 years, players with Elite hockey IQ always find a way to generate points.

That being said he's going to put up big numbers with Crosby

Edited by Gstank29
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Points has nothing to do with having Elite hockey IQ. Hockey IQ is your ability to create scoring chances from nothing and make you linemates better, Kessel doesn't have either of these qualities at an ELITE level.

Also using points as way of evaluating a players hockey IQ isn't a strong arguement at all. Infact some of the names under Kessel (Kane, Dats ETC) definitely have a higher Hockey IQ than Kessel. Your proof also doesn't account for injuries or for a players PPG over that period of time.

Kessel's PPG isn't as high as other players below him. However, you have to remember that Kessel has played for the frickin Leafs for the past 5 or 6 (?) years.

I think people will finally realize that Phil Kessel is one of the best players in the league this season. Wouldn't be surprised if he won the RR trophy.

EDIT: Also, Phil Kessel DOES make his line mates better. I can pull up some stats to actually, you know, back up my claims.

Edited by Tambellini's Wrist Shot
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Different players score their goals in different ways.

You could argue some elite players don't need to have high hockey IQ to score the goals they do because they make up for it in their physical abilities.

I would argue Ovechkin and Stamkos don't have elite hockey IQ when compared to Crosby or Giroux, but they make up for it by being physical beasts. Dynamic skating and wicked slap shots are all you need to score goals, you don't have to be an elite passer, slick dangler, or a master at the cycle.

Oh I agree with this 100%. It's more of a response to the poster who goes on and on about players "needing" elite hockey IQ to be a top scorer then arguing a guy like Kessel - who does not have elite IQ (IMO) but rather elite skills - does in fact have elite IQ because ... circular logic time ... he has put up elite points!

Basically he's created a self-fulfilling argument with no explanation for how he actually defines hockey IQ or why he thinks Jake lacks it while someone like Kessel supposedly has it at an "elite" level.

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I guess I probably should rephrase the point I'm trying to make.

If you put Jake on a line with a centre like McCann or Horvat, who will both be pretty good, two way centre men, he won't be an elite scorer. In order for Jake to be an elite scorer in this league, he would need to play with an elite playmaking centreman. Jake doesn't have the offensive ability to be "the guy" on a first line in the NHL. However, he would be a very good complement to an elite playmaking centre.

It would work just as well with an elite play making LW. Here's hoping Baer is that guy..

But we have about 5 years to also find/draft/trade for an elite, playmaking 1c. It would be nice but it's not ABSOLUTELY necessary IMO.

Edited by J.R.
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Kessel's PPG isn't as high as other players below him. However, you have to remember that Kessel has played for the frickin Leafs for the past 5 or 6 (?) years.

I think people will finally realize that Phil Kessel is one of the best players in the league this season. Wouldn't be surprised if he won the RR trophy.

EDIT: Also, Phil Kessel DOES make his line mates better. I can pull up some stats to actually, you know, back up my claims.

One page back, you shrug off someone's post about Jake being a product of poor coaching and a bad team to express your concern about his hockey IQ, yet now you turn around and use it to support your argument for Kessel's hockey IQ.

Just give it a rest.

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One page back, you shrug off someone's post about Jake being a product of poor coaching and a bad team to express your concern about his hockey IQ, yet now you turn around and use it to support your argument for Kessel's hockey IQ.

Just give it a rest.

Jake has had poor coaching, but he hasn't played for a bad team. The Hitmen made it to the conference finals this year.

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Kessel's PPG isn't as high as other players below him. However, you have to remember that Kessel has played for the frickin Leafs for the past 5 or 6 (?) years.

I think people will finally realize that Phil Kessel is one of the best players in the league this season. Wouldn't be surprised if he won the RR trophy.

EDIT: Also, Phil Kessel DOES make his line mates better. I can pull up some stats to actually, you know, back up my claims.

Advance stats never tell the whole story so please don't try to us that to back up your points. The only way I use advance stats is when they are coupled together with a couple other things because when you use them separately you get all kinds of weird outliers.

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You need to be able to find the soft spots on the ice, which Virtanen does okay, but not well. An example of someone who does it extremely well is Boeser.

True, but at the same time guys like Stamkos and Ovechkin create their own space through their skating. With speed like that you can make your own space.

I would also say they relied on guys with high hockey IQ in St.Louis and Backstrom to make sure they got the puck in open ice. Virtanen may need a guy like that centering him in order to really shine.

Edited by DeNiro
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True, but at the same time guys like Stamkos and Ovechkin create their own space through their skating. With speed like that you can make your own space.

I would also say they relied on guys with high hockey IQ in St.Louis and Backstrom to make sure they got the puck in open ice. Virtanen may need a guy like that centering him in order to really shine.

For sure, DeNiro. If we could somehow get our hands on an elite playmaking centre, Virt would shine.

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Advance stats never tell the whole story so please don't try to us that to back up your points. The only way I use advance stats is when they are coupled together with a couple other things because when you use them separately you get all kinds of weird outliers.

http://www.pensburgh.com/2015/7/13/8925329/phil-kessel-advanced-stats-pittsburgh-penguins

Read the article before you just stick your head in the sand.

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http://www.pensburgh.com/2015/7/13/8925329/phil-kessel-advanced-stats-pittsburgh-penguins

Read the article before you just stick your head in the sand

Nothing that says that he has a ELITE offensive awareness. Again my definition of elite is top 10 in the league and usually you find an unbias article that compares him to other elite players you aren't going to change my opinion.

There are lots of players that make there linemates better, doesn't mean they have elite offensive hockey IQ

Also Corsi is shots for and against, Kessel is a shooter so of course there corsi is going to be better doesn't mean he makes them better as hockey players

Edited by Gstank29
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Nothing that says that he has a ELITE offensive awareness. Again my definition of elite is top 10 in the league and usually you find an unbias article that compares him to other elite players you aren't going to change my opinion.

There are lots of players that make there linemates better, doesn't mean they have elite offensive hockey IQ

Also Corsi is shots for and against, Kessel is a shooter so of course there corsi is going to be better

I wasn't trying to prove that he has elite offensive awareness. I was proving that he makes his linemates better.

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Cassels... McCann... Horvat ... Zukenov .... all have potential to become a 1C.

......seriously? Jeez some people need to temper their expectations when it comes to our prospects. I'd say out of all of those guys, Horvat is the only one with a chance at a first line role.

Edited by Tambellini's Wrist Shot
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I wasn't trying to prove that he has elite offensive awareness. I was proving that he makes his linemates better.

And lots of players do the same, doesn't mean they have Elite offensive awareness, it means they have chemistry.

Again Corsi is shots on goal Kessel is a shooter, is of course those numbers are going to be better....

Edited by Gstank29
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