the AHL is not only a reserve for injuries, but it is also a developmental league for NHLer's. Some would argue it isn't, but you CANNOT argue the fact that the jump from Junior hockey to the AHL is substantial. Even bigger jump is obviously the jump from Junior to the NHL. Etem, Shinkaruk, Horvat, Baertschi, Granlund, Virtanen, these are all players who LIT UP junior. Horvat being the anomaly and producing after the jump from junior to pros but look at the rest. All have spent time (apart from Virtanen) in the AHL. Some have made it, some are still struggling. My point is, Virtanen can develop and get used to the jump from Junior to the pros by playing against men in the AHL. How do you grow as a 6th overall pick, making mistakes, taking penalties, not producing, and being benched for half of a game constantly. He clearly is not ready.
- Codes1087

JV isn't a junior player adjusting to NHL he did that last year. He's NHL ready otherwise they would have him in Utica plain and simple WD has said this year they have zero developmental time now in the NHL. You want more time show him you deserve it. So that's where we are at with JV. He's got some more games as it stands to show more

I'm not sure where they are at for injuries but I'd personally rather them just keep playing him or call up someone else at this point.

I'm not sure Ruutu or another PTO candidate would help this team win games more than JV. I think they should of sent him down last year even but I understand why they need him in the NHL.
- belcherbd[/quote]



Zalewski would be the guy I would peg to replace Virtanen.

JV is better then what we got now and better then Skille.... but maybe he can light it up more on the fourth playing with Guance and Menja might be able to produce with some energy. Talk of AHL is premature. If the Canucks didn't think he added he would be gone cause they have zero tolerance policy with young guys right now. Vets get the rope and minutes to skate into form.... hello LE
- Nuck4U

JV being 4th line and averaging less icetime per game says otherwise. JV might have more size/speed/skill than Skille but one looks more comfortable out there making plays than the other

JV isn't a junior player adjusting to NHL he did that last year. He's NHL ready otherwise they would have him in Utica plain and simple WD has said this year they have zero developmental time now in the NHL. You want more time show him you deserve it. So that's where we are at with JV. He's got some more games as it stands to show more
- Nuck4U

"JV isn't a junior player adjusting to NHL he did that last year" - stats to backup this statement?

"You want more time show him you deserve it. " - you should probably get on the phone with WD and tell him not to bench Virtanen for the last period and a half of the game then. He is not seeing something that you clearly see.

Thanks Carol...

Nice Lazar mention......always cool when a hometown kid makes the show...(even if he's playing for Ottawa )

I still think he's not 100%.
I'm sure he'd be in Utica if we had the bodies to replace him.
Unfortunately, no one has pushed him down the depth chart yet (Rodin!), yet.
- dbot

I agree with this. Either hes not 100% or hes healthy enough where the shoulder can survive without surgery. I didnt see which one he hurt this time around, but he had surgery a few years ago and possibly might be in line for another and hes shying away from impact

JV isn't a junior player adjusting to NHL he did that last year. He's NHL ready otherwise they would have him in Utica plain and simple WD has said this year they have zero developmental time now in the NHL. You want more time show him you deserve it. So that's where we are at with JV. He's got some more games as it stands to show more
- Nuck4U

You just posted the answer earlier, hes the best they got right now (though being a 4th line role, it can be debated whether he is the best available for that role now). When the team is healthy, he needs to be much better than he is to stay on the team

"You can't predetermine a course of action and expect results". please elaborate lol.
- Codes1087

What's the point... you have determined that no matter what JV does he won't get any better unless he plays in the AHL....

What's the point... you have determined that no matter what JV won't get any better unless he plays in the AHL....
- Nuck4U

I actually don't understand that structure of that sentence. I am trying to understand what you mean.

"JV isn't a junior player adjusting to NHL he did that last year" - stats to backup this statement?

"You want more time show him you deserve it. " - you should probably get on the phone with WD and tell him not to bench Virtanen for the last period and a half of the game then. He is not seeing something that you clearly see.
- Codes1087

Can't fathom how a top 6OA player is suited to the fourth line instead of being developed as a top six in the minors... Get a ufa to play 7-10 minutes a night like cracker from last season... Why waste this guy's season and talent playing limited minutes...

Can't fathom how a top 6OA player is suited to the fourth line instead of being developed as a top six in the minors... Get a ufa to play 7-10 minutes a night like cracker from last season... Why waste this guy's season and talent playing limited minutes...
- kaptaan

JV never was a surefire top 6. His body and style of play suggest he could develop in a lesser role at the NHL level, possibly becoming top 6 down the road.

That said, if he's gonna ride the pine then might as well play in the A.

What?

Megna is not really an "energy player". I think he is listed at 5"8 or something like that and not exactly physical. I don't think talk of the AHL for Virtanen is premature at all. I think the fans, commenters here, and media are justified in questioning whether or not he is ready, because frankly, he doesn't look it. His speed/physical presence to me is not enough to warrant a former 6th overall pick playing 6 minutes a night and sitting out a period and a half of a game. I am hoping that when Burrows/Dorsett/Rodin return. JV is sent down to fine tune his game and play top lines under TG.
- Codes1087

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=123364
he's listed at 6'1 and 195 here so not that small.
and another note it seems that with Guance and Virtanen the fourth line has some more speed and skill to go

JV never was a surefire top 6. His body and style of play suggest he could develop in a lesser role at the NHL level, possibly becoming top 6 down the road.

That said, if he's gonna ride the pine then might as well play in the A.
- golfingsince

HE's playing so he has to make the most of what he gets to get more minutes. But as it stands with the vets it will take more time for top six role. As players before him who can do more then one type of role they matured in NHL doing that ... e.g. Kessler and Sedins that played bottom six roles for years before being NHL top 6 players.

Go 'Nucks!!! (There, just jinxed you bastards lol)

If it were not for injuries, I think they would have sent JV down by now.

HE's playing so he has to make the most of what he gets to get more minutes. But as it stands with the vets it will take more time for top six role. As players before him who can do more then one type of role they matured in NHL doing that ... e.g. Kessler and Sedins that played bottom six roles for years before being NHL top 6 players.
- Nuck4U

One of the big differences between the 3 you mentioned and JV is at least part of their games seemed NHL ready.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=123364
he's listed at 6'1 and 195 here so not that small.
and another note it seems that with Guance and Virtanen the fourth line has some more speed and skill to go
- onesmallleap

Yes interesting potential.... but everyone wants JV sent down cause he's playing there.... that's not giving it a chance

One of the big differences between the 3 you mentioned and JV is at least part of their games seemed NHL ready.
- golfingsince

No way would WD play him now if he wasn't NHL ready. Look at Tree he put Biega in instead of Him for that reason and there are NHL experienced Vets on Utica.

What?

Megna is not really an "energy player". I think he is listed at 5"8 or something like that and not exactly physical. I don't think talk of the AHL for Virtanen is premature at all. I think the fans, commenters here, and media are justified in questioning whether or not he is ready, because frankly, he doesn't look it. His speed/physical presence to me is not enough to warrant a former 6th overall pick playing 6 minutes a night and sitting out a period and a half of a game. I am hoping that when Burrows/Dorsett/Rodin return. JV is sent down to fine tune his game and play top lines under TG.

quote is busted but this is exactly how i feel too

You dont draft a guy 6th overall to play 5 minutes a night.

Virtanen has never seemed out of place in the NHL nor has he been totally outclassed for a very young player, the argument for icetime seems to be several peoples "bone " to keep picking at , which IMO is purely speculative until we see a larger sample size of the impact being with the pros has on his development/maturity

Can't fathom how a top 6OA player is suited to the fourth line instead of being developed as a top six in the minors... Get a ufa to play 7-10 minutes a night like cracker from last season... Why waste this guy's season and talent playing limited minutes...
- kaptaan

Because he has the value to do other things and play until that becomes an option otherwise the team would not have him here given their options.

HE's playing so he has to make the most of what he gets to get more minutes. But as it stands with the vets it will take more time for top six role. As players before him who can do more then one type of role they matured in NHL doing that ... e.g. Kessler and Sedins that played bottom six roles for years before being NHL top 6 players.
- Nuck4U

Kesler spent over 100 games in the AHL, including scoring 30 goals in a season. As for the Sedin's they were scorers and thats all they worked on, they didnt do the 4th line grinder thing JV is doing, totally different

HE's playing so he has to make the most of what he gets to get more minutes. But as it stands with the vets it will take more time for top six role. As players before him who can do more then one type of role they matured in NHL doing that ... e.g. Kessler and Sedins that played bottom six roles for years before being NHL top 6 players.
- Nuck4U

reasoning and truth is not allowed

Kesler spent over 100 games in the AHL, including scoring 30 goals in a season. As for the Sedin's they were scorers and thats all they worked on, they didnt do the 4th line grinder thing JV is doing, totally different
- WhiteLie

THat was a lockout year ... in there right ...

HE's playing so he has to make the most of what he gets to get more minutes. But as it stands with the vets it will take more time for top six role. As players before him who can do more then one type of role they matured in NHL doing that ... e.g. Kessler and Sedins that played bottom six roles for years before being NHL top 6 players.
- Nuck4U

Being a Vet and being a sophomore has no influence on where a player plays. Sure, rookies tend to be placed on the 4th line in limited minutes to show what you can do, but Burrows playing on the 4th line proves this. You play the minutes you play, on the line the coach sees your skills most useful to him/the team in winning hockey games. Ehlers is a top line winger. Pastrnak is a top line winger. These players are 2 or 3 years removed from Junior, same as Virtanen.