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North Division Less Known Players Primer - Vancouver Canucks |
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Happy Monday everyone! For those who had the misfortune of returning to work today, why not take a break and read a new blog.
In just a couple of weeks the NHL season will begin, with all Canadian's teams taking part in the same division. Some teams like the Oilers and Flames are used to playing once another 4-5 times a year, with fans learning more about the players, and not just the top end guys like McDavid or Tkachuk.
On the flip side, fans of teams like Toronto and Ottawa who only may watch Edmonton or Calgary twice a year may know next to nothing about guys like Sam Bennett or Caleb Jones.
With all that in mind, I thought I would start a new series for all fans of North Division teams, detailing a player from each team that you should acquaint yourself with before the season begins.
I put all the teams names in a hat and pulled the Toronto Maple Leafs but then decided I didn't want to talk about Toronto today and picked the Canucks instead.
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Last season the Canucks finished 4th in the Pacific Division, due to the success of top end players such as Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Quinn Hughes, Bo Horvat, and Brock Boeser who will all be returning this season. Those are names that everyone should already be fairly familiar with.
Here are a couple players that outside fanbases should pay more attention to this season.
Jake Virtanen
Virtanen has been a contentious player for years now in the Canucks organization. Drafted 6th overall in 2014, Virtanen was scouted as a big physical power forward who could put up big points. That never really translated as the forward bounced between the big club and the AHL for a few seasons before becoming an NHL regular, used more in a bottom six role.
This past season was Virtanen's most successful with a career high 18 goals and 18 assists in only 69 games. Virtanen was used more in the top six and got time with big guns Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson. His 12% SH% was a bit high for him, but certainly not out of the realm of sustainable.
Things were less good once the playoffs kicked off with Virtanen producing a mere 2 goals and 1 assist in his 16 post-season games.
So what will fans of the other North Division teams notice when Virtanen is on the ice?
Multiple Choice?
When Virtanen is on his game he can push past defenders with speed, out muscle almost anyone, and has the hands to score some great goals.
The more ugly side of his game will see him taking bad penalties, missing defensive assignments and staying in the safe areas of the ice and not imposing himself physically. While a player like J.T. Miller is able to be an effective physical force and regularly produce, Virtanen is far more of a mixed bag.
Last season showed signs of improvement from the 24 year old winger and with the likes of Leivo and more importantly Toffoli gone from the roster, Virtanen has a real shot at becoming a regular top six player. The Bo Horvat line is commonly used to tackle the tougher defensive assignments which coach Travis Green has been hesitant to give to Virtanen. The best spot in the top six for Virtanen may be alongside Elias Pettersson and J.T.Miller.
Alternatively Virtanen's best spot may be on the third line and if he can find consistency other teams could appreciate/be frustrated by him for his physical play and ability to score goals against another team's third pairing and bottom six lines.
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I now open the comments section to Vancouver Canucks fans. Who is a player that should receive more love from your lineup or that fans from outside don't know enough about? I look forward to seeing some conversatioon on this matter.
Thanks for reading!
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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