I agree, just don't want to get ahead of myself. 1st round pick for a 2nd.....as you pointed out buying low.
- golfingsince

That makes sense

It's funny there were more than a few in the flames thread who were throwing out possible top line tryouts and a thought was thrown out there basically saying too bad we didn't have Sven ...

When you realize something is not worth your time and you let it wither and die? What's not to like?


- PuckShack

Again feeling better?

That's the issue with tanking in a salary cap league, eventually you can't afford to keep the assets. see: Edmonton
- PuckShack

When did Edmonton have problems with keeping assets ?

Drouin situation was different asked for a trade and failed to report to A ... he had more talent at the time ahead of him like Stamkos until he got injured.

JV.... no talent ahead of him but a plug named Skille and Megna... wouldn't that be frustrating ... but my explanation on how he learns and is utilized is on the coach ... handling young players was supposed to be a WD strength for this rebuilding team.... haven't seen that with JV... but hey time will tell... no hate there... just disappointment
- Nuck4U

Drouin asked for a trade because he wasn't getting the opportunities he thought he deserved, including bottom 6 minutes and being a scratch in the playoffs the season before http://www.thehockeynews....han-drouins-trade-request

Currently JV feels that his struggles are in part with what the coach is deciding, so the situation sounds very similar to me

Again feeling better?
- VANTEL

And here I thought you'd withered and died

Pretty damn nice problem to have
Too many good young players
Soo jealous of Tampa Bay.

kucherov
johonson
Namestikov
Palat

Plus their newest 2nd round draft pick is leading the CHL in scoring

- classic321

Trade then for draft picks keep the cycle going

That makes sense

It's funny there were more than a few in the flames thread who were throwing out possible top line tryouts and a thought was thrown out there basically saying too bad we didn't have Sven ...
- Redmile247

Really?

He would fit in nicely with those young skilled guys I would think.

Pretty damn nice problem to have
Too many good young players
Soo jealous of Tampa Bay.

kucherov
johonson
Namestikov
Palat

Plus their newest 2nd round draft pick is leading the CHL in scoring

- classic321

There's that drouin guy as well

Virtanen is a pure North/South player with speed, size and a decent shot. While time in Utica may be worthwhile it would only be worthwhile if he is paired with players that are gifted enough to help him get his game together.

Having him play with 4th line plugs is a waste of everyone's time and is eroding his confidence. He needs to be paired on a line with either Horvat or Sutter if you want him to develop at the NHL level, period. He is too fast to play with the Sedins and his North/South game wouldn't work with their East/West.

For those that keep harping on sending him to Utica, I suggest you think about who he should play with down there. While I am not averse to the suggestion there isn't exactly a plethora of talent on the farm either. Jake is a thoroughbred that needs to skate to be successful, 7 or 8 minutes a night on a checking line is NOT development.

I could see Virtanen and Rendulic as a formidable combo of wingers with the right center, I'm just not sure we have that player in the farm system. So you pair them with Chaput? Wacey Hamilton or Curtis Valk? Talk about a lack of talent at center...

The Canucks need to be thinking long term and about developing chemistry with their farm team. The successful teams have players that come up together as units (or at least partial units). To date the Canucks have only been able to bring up individual "players".

The reason the top teams are successful is because they develop units of players, much like the 5 man units of the old Soviet system. The Canucks appear to be a decade behind.

I think it's unfair to say Virtanen believes he is entitled. I worked with a player that was a 3rd line center in the NHL for several years. Even years after retirement he felt his coach (Keenan) miscast him as a 3rd line center and he never had a chance to "flourish". That happens all the time in the NHL, it depends on the system you are playing in. In this case this guy was the prototypical 3rd line center, for Keenan's system.

I'm not knocking Jake or Willie hear. They may not be on the same page, but to say one is at fault is shortsighted. Jake is frustrated because the coach is utilizing him in a way that he thinks isn't optimal. What's wrong with being honest? Would you prefer he sucks it up and becomes an 8 minute 4th line grinder?

And before the obligatory criticisms come out. If you haven't played the game at a high level, rotating linemates SUCK. All players have different ways of moving the puck, positioning etc. As a young player it's hard enough to do your own job without trying to compensate for a turnstile of different linemates. Remember Jake is a pure North/South player with speed. Play him with other North/South players and he will be fine. Play him with a rotating group of aging vets, PTO signings and AHL callups then whine about his performance? OK.
- PuckShack

I didn't read the whole thing, but the bolded part caught my eye. I think if JV goes to the AHL, he's THE guy. He's the catalyst, the star of the show, and the one that makes everyone else better. Sven was the guy for the Comets on their run (aside from Markstrom) after the trade and if JV goes down I hope he has a similar impact. Thats why I don't worry about who he plays with, I want to see him confident enough to carry the load, not be the complimentary guy to someone else

That makes sense

It's funny there were more than a few in the flames thread who were throwing out possible top line tryouts and a thought was thrown out there basically saying too bad we didn't have Sven ...
- Redmile247

Take him back give us SM intead ...

Really?

He would fit in nicely with those young skilled guys I would think.
- golfingsince

Yeah

I say put him with Bo and LE and see what happens

And here I thought you'd withered and died
- golfingsince

He really hurt my feelings.

I even sent him a nice note saying he is a good poster.


I know it's not like the I love you man type I send to Lefty every Friday

Or Your Da Bomb Pms I send Red and Belcher but I though it was decent of me to say that about him.

I didn't read the whole thing, but the bolded part caught my eye. I think if JV goes to the AHL, he's THE guy. He's the catalyst, the star of the show, and the one that makes everyone else better. Sven was the guy for the Comets on their run (aside from Markstrom) after the trade and if JV goes down I hope he has a similar impact. Thats why I don't worry about who he plays with, I want to see him confident enough to carry the load, not be the complimentary guy to someone else
- WhiteLie

Read the whole post so you understand why that part is questionable when it comes to JV

Vantel Subban.

Trade then for draft picks keep the cycle going
- Nuck4U

exactly

They had 4 picks in the first 2 rounds last year.

Probably the best GM in the league.

Read the whole post so you understand why that part is questionable when it comes to JV
- Nuck4U

Maybe he doesn't have four hours to spare

He really hurt my feelings.

I even sent him a nice note saying he is a good poster.


I know it's not like the I love you man type I send to Lefty every Friday

Or Your Da Bomb Pms I send Red and Belcher but I though it was decent of me to say that about him.
- VANTEL

Sorry but his post was very thorough and well said ...

Sorry but his post was very thorough and well said ...
- Nuck4U

I am glad you enjoyed it . Seems someone else felt the same as me. I think White Lies first line was I didn't read all of it.

Take him back give us SM intead ...
- Nuck4U

Stajan, Matt ?

Maybe he doesn't have four hours to spare
- VANTEL

My 7 year old son can do it in 30 seconds but I get the older you are the harder it is to retain thoughts

Vantel Subban.
- golfingsince

I know

Read the whole post so you understand why that part is questionable when it comes to JV
- Nuck4U

Why would it be questionable? He has more NHL experience than most of the Comets, its hardly different than expecting him to light up the world junior tournament last year. He has the body of an NHL player in all aspects, that should help him be a force in Utica. Remember his draft highlights where he would go end to end, or have a defender bounce off of him while taking the puck to the net? I want to see him try those things, Horvat does that at the NHL level and I see no reason why Virtanen can't do that in the AHL before trying it in the NHL

Stajan, Matt ?
- Redmile247

My 7 year old son can do it in 30 seconds but I get the older you are the harder it is to retain thoughts
- Nuck4U

Speaking of that I should check my diaper

Vantel Subban.
- golfingsince