Jump to content
The Official Site of the Vancouver Canucks
Canucks Community

Jake Virtanen | #18 | RW


avelanch

Recommended Posts

As I commented in the PGT, the third period showed me something I've yet to see from him -- hockey sense, vision, and playmaking.  Seemed he had his head up this game, thinking and looking to make something happen instead of just wildly throwing the puck around.  He was actually driving the play more and more, as opposed to being a black hole.  Forgot who it was he turned away from on the wall to lose his check and got a good scoring chance, then went around the net to set up a guy with an open shot but it just didn't connect.

 

Probably the most impressive game and certainly best period I've seen of him so far.  If that was any indication, he is NOT going to be a one-trick pony in this league.  Very VERY encouraging.

  • Upvote 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Hutton Wink said:

As I commented in the PGT, the third period showed me something I've yet to see from him -- hockey sense, vision, and playmaking.  Seemed he had his head up this game, thinking and looking to make something happen instead of just wildly throwing the puck around.  He was actually driving the play more and more, as opposed to being a black hole.  Forgot who it was he turned away from on the wall to lose his check and got a good scoring chance, then went around the net to set up a guy with an open shot but it just didn't connect.

 

Probably the most impressive game and certainly best period I've seen of him so far.  If that was any indication, he is NOT going to be a one-trick pony in this league.  Very VERY encouraging.

He's still spending time thinking instead of just playing.

 

It'll come, people just need to be patient. He's already improved a LOT in that regard since the beginning of the year.

Most young players who aren't exceptional take time adjusting to NHL systems, speed etc. It takes a while for things like positioning, where does the coach want me, where's the puck going and when, where's my teammate going to be etc to become 'automatic' and allow them to get back to playing instinctual rather constantly thinking and reacting.

 

Virt's ice time has been creeping up as well as he's been getting better in that regard and more play time generally leads to exponential growth in that regard (more reps, more second nature, less thinking).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, High and Inside said:

I agree.  Jake has  looked really good for almost 2 months now.  Tonight I really noticed his confidence especially holding on to the puck.  I see a lot of potential in him whereas Jared seems to be falling off as the season goes along.  I still think McCann will be good but just not as ready as Jake is.  

Sorry, but I must disagree.  Jake has BEEN REAL GOOD, not really good. B)  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, CANUCK-EXPRESS said:

He was more involved in the offensive zone,  looked really strong on the puck, cycling more, making good stretch passes, taking away pucks in his own zone, using his speed as always and was noticeable all night.

sounds very encouraging! almost 700 pages worth of virtanen talk. 

 

lots of people were on the fence with jake. i'm glad he seems more confident with his own play. it's good that we didn't throw him to the wolves in the beginning of the year. would've been discouraged to see him lost out there. i hope he continues to bring it. it's exciting to see him grow and develop as a player. he's a keeper that virtanen! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Hutton Wink said:

As I commented in the PGT, the third period showed me something I've yet to see from him -- hockey sense, vision, and playmaking.  Seemed he had his head up this game, thinking and looking to make something happen instead of just wildly throwing the puck around.  He was actually driving the play more and more, as opposed to being a black hole.  Forgot who it was he turned away from on the wall to lose his check and got a good scoring chance, then went around the net to set up a guy with an open shot but it just didn't connect.

 

Probably the most impressive game and certainly best period I've seen of him so far.  If that was any indication, he is NOT going to be a one-trick pony in this league.  Very VERY encouraging.

I wonder what changed in his game? Like, did a switch or something just go off? Was it coach's decision to bring him along slowly and work with him on the days where he wasn't dressing for games? Or maybe the veterans just speaking into him, and giving him advice about his play, and life. Maybe he's just maturing as a person, and also as a player. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, N4ZZY said:

I wonder what changed in his game? Like, did a switch or something just go off? Was it coach's decision to bring him along slowly and work with him on the days where he wasn't dressing for games? Or maybe the veterans just speaking into him, and giving him advice about his play, and life. Maybe he's just maturing as a person, and also as a player. 

 

Combination of all that stuff.  Management, and the coaching staff have a very good grasp on how to develop.  He is coming into his own, comes with not only personal confidence, but the confidence the coaching staff and management, and believe it or not even the fanbase.  He's going out there and just playing his game.  As players get used to the speed at the NHL level, the game starts to slow down for them, for the great ones this just continues.  Here's to hoping Jake can continue, I believe he will, he has all the tools. :) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, N4ZZY said:

I wonder what changed in his game? Like, did a switch or something just go off? Was it coach's decision to bring him along slowly and work with him on the days where he wasn't dressing for games? Or maybe the veterans just speaking into him, and giving him advice about his play, and life. Maybe he's just maturing as a person, and also as a player. 

 

I don't know, but the side benefit for us is that it's finally shut up all the Ehlers/Nylander/bust/allhedoesis-hit/brutalIQ haters.  Well, until he goes through his next plateau or dip in his development.

 

So much gets made and evidently blown up about "low hockey IQ" that maybe that's why it was such a surprise last night to see what he was doing.

Edited by Hutton Wink
fixed inadvertant profanity block(!)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Hutton Wink said:

I don't know, but the side benefit for us is that it's finally shut up all the Ehlers/Nylander/bust/allhedoesi$&!#/brutalIQ haters.  Well, until he goes through his next plateau or dip in his development.

 

So much gets made and evidently blown up about "low hockey IQ" that maybe that's why it was such a surprise last night to see what he was doing.

Unrealistic fans expect linear development. So when a player doesn't perform from the start and that slump prolongs, the sharks circle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Hutton Wink said:

I don't know, but the side benefit for us is that it's finally shut up all the Ehlers/Nylander/bust/allhedoesi$&!#/brutalIQ haters.  Well, until he goes through his next plateau or dip in his development.

 

So much gets made and evidently blown up about "low hockey IQ" that maybe that's why it was such a surprise last night to see what he was doing.

Like every player jake will be praised for good play and criticized for bad play. Welcome to a hockey discussion forum!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

51 minutes ago, Gooseberries said:

Like every player jake will be praised for good play and criticized for bad play. Welcome to a hockey discussion forum!

Yeah... I don't see many haters here who compliment Jake when he does something good as often as they comment when he does something bad.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, CANUCK-EXPRESS said:

Yeah... I don't see many haters here who compliment Jake when he does something good as often as they comment when he does something bad.

I could say the same of those who were blindly supporting him through half the season. His play has changed dramatically for the good though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, CANUCK-EXPRESS said:

Yeah... I don't see many haters here who compliment Jake when he does something good as often as they comment when he does something bad.

<crickets>

 

Their silence is deafening... and confirming their bias.  It's silly -- he's our player, the draft won't be redone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Gooseberries said:

I could say the same of those who were blindly supporting him through half the season. His play has changed dramatically for the good though.

I don't know about you but I would rather hear people supporting me than people hating on me...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, RonMexico said:

It's really not that funny any more nor was it ever all that funny to begin with.

It's real funny, and always will be real funny.  :P  our team sucks and will for quite some time.  We all need to laugh a bit, or not. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, numb3r 16 said:

I don't know about you but I would rather hear people supporting me than people hating on me...

Lol then I would suggest to be good at what you do.

 

I think some of you need to get a taste of the real world  (not you in particular). When you underperform in life you will get chewed out.  It's not the end of the world. When you exceed expectations  you will be praised. 

 

LIFE

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • -Vintage Canuck- changed the title to Jake Virtanen | #18 | RW
  • -SN- locked this topic
  • b3. unlocked this topic

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...