Tbh I think Vancouver has mishandled Virtanen right from the get go. They should have let him develop his offensive game in the juniors and then give him a year or two in the AHL to maximize his potential. Nylander has way more offensive upside yet we're still cooking him in the AHL so he's as ready as possible when he finally reaches the NHL. Virtanen's been handed a free pass just because he's physically ready to play. He's not going to be able to develop his offensive game without being given top 6 minutes and I doubt he gets them any time soon with the big team. I'd let him develop with Utica until he's shown he can dominate in the AHL before I give him another chance on the Canucks. He needs to prove himself and earn his way on the team rather than getting a free pass due to his size (something that he's been relying on as an advantage even in junior, in the NHL that size won't give him much of an advantage)
RW Jake Virtanen (2014, 6th, VAN) III
- Thread starter Woodhouse
- Start date
He didn't really improve on his draft year last season, he put up a slightly better ppg, but a drastically lower gpg.
and all those guys stock has fallen accordingly, and there is a big difference between ups and downs, and a lack of progression over 18 months.Has Dal Colle?
He's been regressing even worse this year.
Has Haydn Fleury?
He was a healthy scratch after his draft year 3 times by Sutter and regressed pretty bad.
Everyone has up's and down's after the draft.
But playing for Canadian team and the guy is instantly labelled a bust.
Let's do a HFBoards roadtrip to Jake Virtanen's house and tell him to retire already! The kid clearly has already lost it and needs to give up on the game before embarrassing himself any further. He's had a good run but it's time to go.
Lemmiwinks
Registered User
And let me guess, you make this adjustment based on the 5 wjc games you watched
Not saying you have to like Virtanen, but I wouldn't let this tournament completely flip your expectations of him. For one thing, I don't think any of his costly penalties would be called in the NHL. Also he's looked decent with the Canucks, despite not scoring as much as one would like.
And let me guess, you make this adjustment based on the 5 wjc games you watched
Not saying you have to like Virtanen, but I wouldn't let this tournament completely flip your expectations of him. For one thing, I don't think any of his costly penalties would be called in the NHL. Also he's looked decent with the Canucks, despite not scoring as much as one would like.
I'm pretty sure 2 if not 3 of his penalties would be called in the NHL. The only one he could maybe get away with was the first of his two 3rd period penalties, where his stick kind of got jammed in between the opponents legs. The slash afterwards was an obvious call.
Breakers
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Harry Kakalovich
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He looked pretty good in the games I saw - didn't see the Finland game but I liked the way he looked - team Canada had bigger problems than him I would say
The Iron Goalie
Formally 'OEL for Norris'
Why does there need to be a faction, or person who take most/all the blame? They failed as a group who cares who's most responsible.
As for Jake. 5 games doesn't change much for me, however if this type of play becomes a trend, we need to worry.
The issue is that some have expressed concern about Virtanen's lack of hockey sense and his attitude since before he was drafted. His performance at the WJHC this year wasn't an aberration, it was too much in line with previous concerns.
yoss
Registered User
- May 25, 2011
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There doesn't, it was tongue in cheek comment b/c i'm sick of seeing (predominately) leaf fans flip the **** out about Virt and how awful and responsible for everything he was. That game day thread was disgusting, i cannot for the life of me understand how (presumably) grown men- and women, can treat a 19 kid in that manner, even on a hockey forum.
And then the Province goes and outdoes it self getting swept up in the all of the dramatics which was equally reprehensible to me, at least the huge photo in the paper, didn't read the actual article.
Captain Timo
Registered User
- Dec 4, 2015
- 2,319
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Sorry, what? Wrong thread to talk about this, and this is just a stupid statement. Sorry, but there's no other way to put it.
yoss
Registered User
- May 25, 2011
- 3,006
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Sorry, what? Wrong thread to talk about this, and this is just a stupid statement. Sorry, but there's no other way to put it.
You need some help do you? Ok, let me help you. Read the post directly above yours for a little context.
Bernier the Boats
Formerly BBurke
- Aug 31, 2011
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Virtanen is taking a ton of heat and rightfully so. It's not like he was one of the worst players on the ice, but the dude had 1 point in the tournament. As a 19 year old returning player playing with Dylan Strome on the 1st line and 1st PP, his performance was awful. He should have produced way more. Heck, he was better last year.
Was he the reason Canada lost? No. Was he awful for an NHL player coming down to play in a tournament with junior players? He should have dominated, and instead he turned in a performance worse than the one he did last year.
Was he the reason Canada lost? No. Was he awful for an NHL player coming down to play in a tournament with junior players? He should have dominated, and instead he turned in a performance worse than the one he did last year.
No he was consistently one of the worst players on the ice in every game. Could always be counted on to take a dumb penalty(s) and never pass to the open man.
Reminds me of Kyle Beach. Probably a future AHL 3rd line grinder.
He wasn't the worst... But i've explained this too many time to other people. HE IS NOT A PURE SKILL PLAYER so stop treating him like one
People will never understand that. They want blood because a bunch of kids lost a meaningless hockey tournament. It makes me sick the vitriol people spew out of their mouths about 17, 18 and 19 year olds. The hockey culture is an absolute disgrace, from the parents in the rinks that yell at coaches to play their kid more, to abusing officials in house league. To fans saying this kind of garbage on a forum about kids who are not even the players they are going to become yet. Its shameful.
Yes let's blame one right winger who wasn't even the captain of the team for the loss a year after the kid won it all with a different, significantly-stronger group. Virtanen gets to go home and kisses his gold medal and waves goodbye to teammates he'll never play with again. Does anyone think that Virtanen was given favorable minutes considering he was released from a professional club to play? Where was Perlini? Where was Dermott? Where was Fleury? Where was Beauvillier? Where was Blackwood? Where was McDonald? Virtanen should have been on the first-unit powerplay and top line by default, but was he provided that type of leash to develop his game with the team's best players? How many periods, or shifts, did he play with Strome or Marner in meaningful games?
Goaltenders and defense was garbage this tournament. We've seen great Canadian teams play through penalties and play through high-scoring games.
Does anyone think Lowry is invited back as coach next year, either?
Goaltenders and defense was garbage this tournament. We've seen great Canadian teams play through penalties and play through high-scoring games.
Does anyone think Lowry is invited back as coach next year, either?
Atomos2
Registered User
Yes. He was on the top PP unit. That was the problem. It's where he took half of his penalties thus immediately ending the powerplay for the team's best players.
I've kind of softened my attitude towards him considering how harsh the papers were on him, but the fact that remains, he has poor discipline.
Breakers
Make Mirrored Visors Legal Again
Virtanen was bad last year in this tournament???
News to me, he was 3rd youngest player on the team and put up solid minutes.
The title of worse player last year goes to Frederick Gauthier AINEC
