hockeydude474 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 http://canucksarmy.com/2015/12/15/valk-virtanen-likely-to-return-to-hitmen-after-world-juniors According to Sportsnet's Garry Valk, the Vancouver Canucks might be giving Jake Virtanen his fourth destination in the a little over a month. The idea of sending Virtanen back to Calgary isn't a crazy one. In fact, it's one that we promoted even when it seemed likely that he would stay with the team. He's played less than ten minutes per game this season and isn't exactly ripping up the score sheet, contributing just a goal and three assists over nineteen appearances. The idea that Virtanen had the physical skill set to play at the NHL level was a fair one, but so long as he's barely stepping on the ice, it's not good for his development. Despite early season struggles, the Hitmen are now neck and neck for supremacy in the WHL's Eastern Conference. This means he would immediately join the top six of a top-flight team, and have an opportunity to re-find his scoring touch that he hasn't had the chance to use with the Canucks. By sending him down before the 39 game mark, the Canucks still burn a year on his Entry-Level Contract, but don't use a up a year of his restricted free agent status. This can prove better for the Canucks in the long run than if they sent him down after Game 9; he can sign his second contract before he breaks out, but still has to wait a little longer until he hits the free market. As for McCann, Valk is merely speculating, but if the Canucks' situation is going to get worse before it gets better, it might not be the worst idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickly Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Good he shouldn't have been on the team in the first place. Don't get me wrong I like Jake but he ain't ready for the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leomessi Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 how credible is valk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ihatetomatoes Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Good decision. The long patient route is the way to go with a guy like Jake. Next year in the AHL, maybe the year after start to get into games. His game is too raw and he needs a lot of playing time to work on his skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 great move if true, now send Mccann down to the juniors please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatedkid666 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Not an issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outsiders Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Replace him with Grenier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastal1 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 1 minute ago, Ihatetomatoes said: Good decision. The long patient route is the way to go with a guy like Jake. Next year in the AHL, maybe the year after start to get into games. His game is too raw and he needs a lot of playing time to work on his skills. Pateince yes! This year in junior then a couple of years in the AHL and then you see how close he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 2 minutes ago, Outsiders said: Replace him with Grenier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperReverb2 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 If Linden and Benning keep Willie D for the remainder of the season then I would be all for sending BOTH Virtanen and McCann back to junior. As much as I feel both can play in the NHL this year, I also feel that it would be detrimental to both players development should they become mired in the $&!# show that is now the Vancouver Canucks, and for most likely the remainder of the year. Young players like McCann and Virtanen need to be confident and play to their respective strengths. When they are allowed to do that in the first 7 games or so they were exciting, dynamic, fun to watch, and above all, helping the team. Now they are playing out of fear and uncertainty because Willie D will staple their respective asses to the bench if they dare make a mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiveEmTheCan Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Good call by Valk. Finish the year in junior then a short six seasons in the AHL to round out his game before sending him to Sweden to finish his career. I've said it from the start, this is how we should handle all rookies while Higgins and the old core still need a season or two to put all together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 i supported the decision to keep him around so im not gonna say they made a mistake and be hypocritical but if he gets sent down to play it safe with his development than ill support it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 2 minutes ago, billabong said: i supported the decision to keep him around so im not gonna say they made a mistake and be hypocritical but if he gets sent down to play it safe with his development than ill support it It's not being hypocritical, it's just reassessing the situation after time. Virtanen earned a spot on the team at the beginning of the year. Perhaps partly due to the fact that it was NHL or WHL, but still earned the spot nonetheless. Having him at the World Juniors is a good idea, then reassess the situation again after the tournament Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flickyoursedin Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Been saying this for weeks! Why keep him up to play 8 minutes every other game that he's not scratched. Thank you Friesen and Grenier can play 8 minutes in the bottom six. Let Virtanen play 20 minutes a game on the number 1 line number 1 PP. These kids gotta develop not ride the pine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_314 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Sounds good to me. Jake should be physically ready but his skills just aren't up to par and he's not getting opportunities to play (not that he's ready for the big minutes either). If he can put up some good scoring numbers in junior while playing a power forward game and go on a run I'm hoping we could see a Draisaitl-like turnaround season next year. Like Leon, who led the Rockets on a run and who is putting up more than one point per game in the NHL, I think if Jake could use this upcoming opportunity to up his scoring and intensity in play to match that of NHL competition while racking up the stats against kids, he could put up some serious numbers and gain confidence in his future, which could only do wonders as he continues to develop as a power forward. As well, I'm in for Grenier as he was producing (now at 14 points in 25 games), but why not bring back a rebound candidate in Kenins for a longer period of time? Bo's struggling and Ronny is too, but they clicked well last season; who's to say they won't have chemistry again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HC20.0 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I think that's a good move. Virtanen looked good in his first 9 games to earn a spot, but after that showed he's not quite NHL ready yet. Sending him back to the Hitmen might help him get his confidence back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbdoubleu Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Worked for Draisaitl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asian player Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 perfect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messier's_elbow Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I'm ok with going back as well. He can start in the AHL next year and earn his way up. Keeping him up on this tire fire team probably isn't going to help his confidence. I wish he was on a better structured junior team though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Building Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 26 minutes ago, Wilbur said: It's not being hypocritical, it's just reassessing the situation after time. Virtanen earned a spot on the team at the beginning of the year. Perhaps partly due to the fact that it was NHL or WHL, but still earned the spot nonetheless. Having him at the World Juniors is a good idea, then reassess the situation again after the tournament Several times I have read an opinion within a thread, crafted a response in my mind, continued reading other posts only to find you stating more or less exactly what I was going to say. Good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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