Blob Mckenzie wrote:According to people who watch the games he has been the shits.
I've watched a couple and he's been getting the 'learn to play D' treatment that the Nucks give all of their rookies. Limited ice time, no offensive zone shifts, etc. Gotta give him some time to earn some trust and if he does he will start looking better (I hope).
No question he's been disappointing but he's far from the finished product, give him a bit of time. He's a guy who needs to get his head on straight before he figures it out - like power forward Sandlak, Momesso and Bertuzzi before him. One of them never did a damn thing, one of them was somewhere in the middle and the last became one of the best players in the world for a time. Virtanen has the talent, just needs to decide what he wants to be.
I can tell you one thing for certain, keeping him in the NHL last year was one of the dumbest decisions they could have made. That one is on Benning, Willie and co.
RoyalDude wrote:I remember when everyone here laid into me last summer when I heard that Virtanen looked really out of shape, fat. Apparently Jakes Dad had better ideas for keeping Jake in shape than the Canucks did. Well, it's obvious that that didn't work, nice one Dad. Hey Papa Virtanen, stay the fuck out and let the Canucks staff work with Jake next summer.
Yeah, that Dad thing didn't work out too well for Cody either.
Diehard1 wrote:
I can tell you one thing for certain, keeping him in the NHL last year was one of the dumbest decisions they could have made. That one is on Benning, Willie and co.
Yes, bang on. "nothing to learn in Junior" was the reason they kept him last year. Looks like a serious development mistake now and I hope for everyone's sake Jake gets it together. Good lord we cannot have another first round bust on our hands, can we?
Oh fuck off about making excuses about Virtanen & his development by the team, it's his own god damn fault for acting like a spoiled princess and not taking his chance/career seriously enough like a young hardworking Bo Horvat.
The entire veteran Canucks squad doesn't like Virtanen's work ethic, that much is apparent.
Can the Canucks just win a Cup within the next 5 years.
Both he and McCann were called by the team and the Sedins last year. It was no secret. Green is said to be the type of coach that can reach players like Virtanen. And initial reports, well speak outs, by Virtanen seemed to suggest he likes Green. I see Jake's potential and gawd knows we need what that potential can potentially be
I see him being in Utica next year too especially if Boeser signs. Whoever we draft one needs to assume they won't be NHL ready so certainly there could be room for Jake.
SKYO wrote:Oh fuck off about making excuses about Virtanen & his development by the team, it's his own god damn fault for acting like a spoiled princess and not taking his chance/career seriously enough like a young hardworking Bo Horvat.
The entire veteran Canucks squad doesn't like Virtanen's work ethic, that much is apparent.
The fact that it took coaching and management staff the entire season to figure out these two kids weren't ready and were entitled brats is very telling. It's on the players, but it's also on the guys calling the shots. There was NO reason these kids had to be shoehorned con to the team before they were ready.
“I don’t care what you and some other poster were talking about”
IIRC there were question marks surrounding the Hitmen and Jake's development with them. He couldn't be sent to Utica so it was either the Canucks or back to junior.
Didn't have anything to do with nothing to prove in junior, they've shown that they are willing to send players back to good strong developmental junior teams. There were though to be issues in Calgary specifically!
Also both JV/JM were playing all-star like in the preseason they made the team, canucks wd/jb have shown they can be patient which willie actually prefers, but both those young guys made huge cases to stick to the squad last year.
He didn't want Stecher in for the longest time as the more experienced Larsen was here.
Gaunce, Cassels, Subban, Labate all these guys are being brought along really slow.
Tryamkin difficult spot due to contract where he can leave, so the team sat him out while he got in shape in the fall, then brought him in, injuries helped him get ice time.
Brisebois, Gaudette, Zhukenov will probably see the AHL when they can go there.
Juolevi and Demko are developing and both could see another development year next season.
Team does take precautions in developing these guys properly, just Virtanen had the NHL size already even at 19, and played like Ferlund did it's why he made the team, but like what everyone is saying JV self sabotaged himself, if he took his career serious - he wouldn't be in this situation, luckily he's still young enough to be re-focused and it sounds like Travis Green is really helping him be a good two-way player, at least semi ok enough for the NHL.
Can the Canucks just win a Cup within the next 5 years.
SKYO wrote:
Tryamkin difficult spot due to contract where he can leave, so the team sat him out while he got in shape in the fall, then brought him in, injuries helped him get ice time.
Its looking like they did quite a masterful job "handling" Tryamkin. Burned a year off the ELC last season., didn't try to force sending him down, made productive use out of his time in the press box, hopefully JB has a happy enough camper to re-sign and stay in North America.
McCann surprised everyone in his preseason and earned a ten game look see. But it wasnt too long after those ten games that people began questioning the wisdom of keeping him. But hey, it got us Gudbranson.
Virtanen was virtually handed the job over the summer with all the Benning and Linden talk and was all but penciled into the starting line up. He however did not impress in camp which caused a number of people to question the wisdom of keeping him.
I think Doc first brought up the problems with the Hitmen and Benning's concern about whether he was being handled properly as the main reason for not returning him to junior. Then the Canucks came up with a development plan for both. Play a game, sit for a few and they had an off ice plan for both since they seemed determined to keep them both. Unfortunately injuries to other players derailed those plans.
I thought both should have been returned to junior but I think Benning needed/Wanted some draft success or to instill confidence in his plan or something. WD on the other hand was opposed to keeping both of them. But he was opposed to keeping Bo too initially.
Do overs are a wonderful thing I guess. But Benning got it right on the money signing Miller for three years so Demko could develop properly. He hasn't rushed or pressured Boeser even though he said last spring he thought Boeser was ready for the NHL. He sent Juolevi back to junior and he started Stetcher in Utica. He wanted Trymakin to go to Utica but we all know why that couldn't happen. So he may have been premature on McCann and Virtanen but he has been right more than wrong. Heck it took the Oilers half a season to return the German to junior and half a season to send the other Finn to the AHL. Nobody gets it right all the time, well except Detroit maybe.
Hockey Widow wrote: But Benning got it right on the money signing Miller for three years
Did he ? How many playoff rounds has Miller won? To be sure, he has been an excellent goalie, and I don't think he is at all overpaid in the current market. But what does what everyone is now willing to admit is a rebuilding team (I've even read some who say it was clear to them all along) need with quality goaltending? All that playing Miller instead of Lack has done is worsen the Canucks' drafting position.
Hockey Widow wrote: But Benning got it right on the money signing Miller for three years
Did he ? How many playoff rounds has Miller won? To be sure, he has been an excellent goalie, and I don't think he is at all overpaid in the current market. But what does what everyone is now willing to admit is a rebuilding team (I've even read some who say it was clear to them all along) need with quality goaltending? All that playing Miller instead of Lack has done is worsen the Canucks' drafting position.
You mean like a losing culture like the Colorado Avalance?
The Genius Holland once said in a George Strombo interview with Doug Armstrong at his side regarding developing draft picks and his success with it (see Island Nucklefarms post above) "you must avoid a losing culture as it does more harm than good" Doug Armstrong agreed
Regarding Lack. The Hurricanes are trying to avoid the losing culture, hence Lack has only played 4 games this season. They have more faith in old man Ward to getterdun as he has played 35 games and is 32 years of age
