Jake Virtanen | #18 | RW

[uselessstats]

That's exactly what they did with Horvat. And it was more than 10 games. He played 5 games in Utica as well.

Practising and travelling with the team, watching them play from the press box and getting a few games in is good education. More valuable than straight playing more games in Jr.

Uh no that's not what happened at all.

Bo suffered a shoulder injury in the final preseason game against Edmonton. He missed the first 12 games of the regular season recovering from the injury and over that time played the 5 games in the AHL. He then was re-inserted back into the line up on November 4 against Colorado, played the next 5 games, was scratched the 6th, and then didn't miss another game until January.

This notion that Vancouver "sat" Bo when he could have played is fiction. He played in pre-season until he was injured, he rehabbed and played a few AHL games, then was essentially full time in the line up as soon as he was recovered and in game shape.

You are suggesting sitting a healthy Jake for 18 of the next 27 games so that Vancouver doesn't burn his ELC. This is nothing remotely similar to how Bo was handled last year. By mid-December Bo had already played 17 NHL games and that is with a 12 game absence due to injury.

[missioncanucksfan]

Ah, so fake numbers. Gotcha

I always laugh when ppl always try to deny what Gretzky did. Ya he was in his era....but so we're 1000's of others. What morons need to realize is that Gretzky was in as peak physical condition as anyone in this era. He also did it without the use of protein shakes, pre-ignition workout crap and any other borderline over the counter PHD'S. Oh ya, and he also made time to swig back his share of the beer as seen in many of his old photos.

[messier's_elbow]

I always laugh when ppl always try to deny what Gretzky did. Ya he was in his era....but so we're 1000's of others. What morons need to realize is that Gretzky was in as peak physical condition as anyone in this era. He also did it without the use of protein shakes, pre-ignition workout crap and any other borderline over the counter PHD'S. Oh ya, and he also made time to swig back his share of the beer as seen in many of his old photos.

Yeah he's still the best ever. Lemieux a close second.

[baumerman77]

Yeah he's still the best ever. Lemieux a close second.

I know it is an unpopular opinion but I'd go Orr>Lemieux>Gretzky as far as most dominant players go.

[Boudrias]

Never saw a player like Gretzky who could anticipate the puck the way he did.

I still consider Orr the best I ever watched. He could play any kind of game, both finesse and physical. No

other player since has been like him. Gretzky has the nod on longevity. One of the saddest times

was the early retirement of Orr. One can only speculate on what he could have done. Two claims:

a) that a knee injury playing summer ball started his demise and that the Bruins ran him into the

ground when they knew his knee was in trouble.

Never saw Howe at his greatest so there has to be a caveat in all this. Just as one cannot claim to

forget all that Gretzky achieved then Howe cannot be forgotten either.

Back further takes us to Doug Harvey and the Rocket.

[stawns]

I always laugh when ppl always try to deny what Gretzky did. Ya he was in his era....but so we're 1000's of others. What morons need to realize is that Gretzky was in as peak physical condition as anyone in this era. He also did it without the use of protein shakes, pre-ignition workout crap and any other borderline over the counter PHD'S. Oh ya, and he also made time to swig back his share of the beer as seen in many of his old photos.

On bricks for skates and a 2x4 for a stick (metal pipe later on). I get the desire to say that player x couldnt have domibated in modern hockey,but put modern players back in time, with old equipment,training and coaching and see what theyd be.

[RWMc1]

Uh no that's not what happened at all.

Bo suffered a shoulder injury in the final preseason game against Edmonton. He missed the first 12 games of the regular season recovering from the injury and over that time played the 5 games in the AHL. He then was re-inserted back into the line up on November 4 against Colorado, played the next 5 games, was scratched the 6th, and then didn't miss another game until January.

This notion that Vancouver "sat" Bo when he could have played is fiction. He played in pre-season until he was injured, he rehabbed and played a few AHL games, then was essentially full time in the line up as soon as he was recovered and in game shape.

You are suggesting sitting a healthy Jake for 18 of the next 27 games so that Vancouver doesn't burn his ELC. This is nothing remotely similar to how Bo was handled last year. By mid-December Bo had already played 17 NHL games and that is with a 12 game absence due to injury.

In those 12 games he skated and worked with skills and conditioning coaches the entire time. He was cleared to play on the 13th and was assigned to Utica on the 19th. He missed 2 games in that period, but that is normal for returning players. Technically he didn't "sit out" any games but it seems as if they wanted to work with him and see if they could develop his game to an approriate NHL level before making a decision with him. The same thing may happen with Showtime.

[WonderTwinPowers]

I always laugh when ppl always try to deny what Gretzky did. Ya he was in his era....but so we're 1000's of others. What morons need to realize is that Gretzky was in as peak physical condition as anyone in this era. He also did it without the use of protein shakes, pre-ignition workout crap and any other borderline over the counter PHD'S. Oh ya, and he also made time to swig back his share of the beer as seen in many of his old photos.

Yeah but no one else was near him, players, coaches, goalies in general are light years better then they were back then. Most players back then didn't even workout through summer or watch there diet, they'd smoke and drink constantly. Players today are just much better and more prepared athletes then those Gretzky embarrassed, you can't even deny it. Could you imagine how OV would have destroyed the league in Gretzky's days

[stawns]

Yeah but no one else was near him, players, coaches, goalies in general are light years better then they were back then. Most players back then didn't even workout through summer or watch there diet, they'd smoke and drink constantly. Players today are just much better and more prepared athletes then those Gretzky embarrassed, you can't even deny it. Could you imagine how OV would have destroyed the league in Gretzky's days

Ovie would have had the same equipment and training programs as everyone else. Imagine gretzky with modern equipment and training programs/supplements etc?

[missioncanucksfan]

On bricks for skates and a 2x4 for a stick (metal pipe later on). I get the desire to say that player x couldnt have domibated in modern hockey,but put modern players back in time, with old equipment,training and coaching and see what theyd be.

that whole Oilers team was such a huge factor. When they had a pk, they would trot out the line of Gretz/Kurri/Coffey/Huddy. Was that a PP? Or a PK?

So many generational players. How many cups did Belivaeu win? Ya there was only 5 other teams to contend with but you still had to survive those times.

Orr was awesome....so was Potvin

[WonderTwinPowers]

Ovie would have had the same equipment and training programs as everyone else. Imagine gretzky with modern equipment and training programs/supplements etc?

He'd still be playing much, much better goalies with improved defensive schemes, but valid point.

[RWMc1]

I don't usually mini-mod, but there must be a Gretzky butt-kissing thread on the Oilers website. This is a Virtanen butt-kissing thread. Smooch on Showtime please.

[Erik Karlsson]

I guess the people who were saying his upper body is small and he needs to get bigger are wrong.

He's huge, made Prust look tiny.

Virtanen and Bo are going to be monsters when they're fully filled out and gain their man strength.

[Rollieo Del Fuego]

I guess the people who were saying his upper body is small and he needs to get bigger are wrong.

He's huge, made Prust look tiny.

Virtanen and Bo are going to be monsters when they're fully filled out and gain their man strength.

Good to know...it sounds like his summer of training added on some muscle to his arms and upper body while trimming the waist.

Jake did seem to get bowled over pretty easy that one time though, Calgary game?...although he had his head down until the last minute.

I just hope he doesn't try to be to physical to soon and end up injured.

[Pears]

Got Jake's autograph at training camp yesterday. Kid is huge and looks bigger in person.

[Alflives]

If that's how you feel about Ehlers you must think Jasek and Zhukenov are busts as well.

Jake plays a high compete game, on and off the puck. Zhuk does the same. I don't know much about Jasek to make comment. Ehlers does not compete well enough on the puck, and not at all off the puck. IMO that makes him a soft (easy to play against) player.

[uselessstats]

In those 12 games he skated and worked with skills and conditioning coaches the entire time. He was cleared to play on the 13th and was assigned to Utica on the 19th. He missed 2 games in that period, but that is normal for returning players. Technically he didn't "sit out" any games but it seems as if they wanted to work with him and see if they could develop his game to an approriate NHL level before making a decision with him. The same thing may happen with Showtime.

Worked on skills ... in addition to rehabbing his injured shoulder. Just so we are clear, he _was_ injured, not some fake excuse to sit him out for 12 games.

If Jake gets similarly hurt then sure I can see it. But he'd better not be a healthy scratch for 12 consecutive games.

Oh and a couple weeks of skills coaching doesn't make that big a difference in the scheme of things. Bo almost certainly would have had the same impact without missing the 12 games, maybe even earlier than he already did.

[Realtor Rod]

I know it is an unpopular opinion but I'd go Orr>Lemieux>Gretzky as far as most dominant players go.

Gretzky-Orr-Mario-Howe-Messier

[Nuxfanabroad]

On ice, FIVE Bobby Orrs kick the buttocks of 5 Gretzkys..no question.

Orr

Lemieux

Gretzky

Absolutely agree.

For best pure sniper?..Bossy must be mentioned in any debate.

[nowhereman]

Gretzky-Orr-Mario-Howe-Messier

There's quite a few guys I'd have ahead of Messier, including Hull, Richard, Beliveau, Harvey, Lafleur, Jagr and Crosby.