On the radio this morning Janger was pimping Virtanen as a breakout 3rd line player for the Canucks this upcoming season. Siting in for Sat was producer Bic, who made many more good points (not unusual). The one idea that struck me was this:

Virtanen has not been able to establish himself as a top 6 forward on a dreadful Canucks team, even though he's been competing with the likes of Leivo, Beartschi, Goldobin, Rousel, Pearson etc for ice time. With these new additions, he's going to have to fight for 3rd line minutes with many of these same guys, who he couldn't beat out for top 6 time. He might not even make the team out of camp...

I agree 100%.

I wouldn't mind if the guys made a decent stipend to help supplement the cost like I said earlier, then again where do you draw the line? Are you going to get into bidding wars between schools? That's not going to help anything.

Are the volleyball players going to demand the same amount of money? Badminton? Field hockey?

College athletics 'welfare' doesn't seem like the right answer neither.
- golfingsince

For the most part, universities are just like any other business, and men's athletics, specifically Football and Basketball, are their Lucky Charms. Hockey and baseball are the Frosted Flakes, and everything else is All Bran. Women's sport is Wheetabix.

For the record, I love Wheetabix, with a little brown sugar and just enough milk to get it soggy

On the radio this morning Janger was pimping Virtanen as a breakout 3rd line player for the Canucks this upcoming season. Siting in for Sat was producer Bic, who made many more good points (not unusual). The one idea that struck me was this:

Virtanen has not been able to establish himself as a top 6 forward on a dreadful Canucks team, even though he's been competing with the likes of Leivo, Beartschi, Goldobin, Rousel, Pearson etc for ice time. With these new additions, he's going to have to fight for 3rd line minutes with many of these same guys, who he couldn't beat out for top 6 time. He might not even make the team out of camp...
- 1970vintage

It's a valid point, but playing in a top 6 role carries different expectations than playing in a bottom six role. I think he's much more suited for 3rd line play, have since he was drafted. I think he'll be effective there.

For the most part, universities are just like any other business, and men's athletics, specifically Football and Basketball, are their Lucky Charms. Hockey and baseball are the Frosted Flakes, and everything else is All Bran. Women's sport is Wheetabix.
- 1970vintage

I think women't basketball does OK, but agree with your overall assessment.

It's a valid point, but playing in a top 6 role carries different expectations than playing in a bottom six role. I think he's much more suited for 3rd line play, have since he was drafted. I think he'll be effective there.
- golfingsince

Just saying he will still be competing with the same guys for ice time. And the "checking roll" moniker will require him to put aside his ego and accept he isn't the guy he thought he was. At 22 do you think he's ready to do that? Plus, will he be ready to commit himself to changing his play to suit that roll?

On the radio this morning Janger was pimping Virtanen as a breakout 3rd line player for the Canucks this upcoming season. Siting in for Sat was producer Bic, who made many more good points (not unusual). The one idea that struck me was this:

Virtanen has not been able to establish himself as a top 6 forward on a dreadful Canucks team, even though he's been competing with the likes of Leivo, Beartschi, Goldobin, Rousel, Pearson etc for ice time. With these new additions, he's going to have to fight for 3rd line minutes with many of these same guys, who he couldn't beat out for top 6 time. He might not even make the team out of camp...
- 1970vintage

Was Jake really given an opportunity in the top 6, I don't believe he was.
Coach Green liked Jake on the 3rd line, to help balance the lines a bit. IMO.

Just saying he will still be competing with the same guys for ice time. And the "checking roll" moniker will require him to put aside his ego and accept he isn't the guy he thought he was. At 22 do you think he's ready to do that? Plus, will he be ready to commit himself to changing his play to suit that roll?
- 1970vintage

He skates, pushes the puck forward, hits a few guys. He doesn't really have to change his style of play, just play to his strengths.

He'll probably produce more just by not being asked to think out there.

Was Jake really given an opportunity in the top 6, I don't believe he was.
Coach Green liked Jake on the 3rd line, to help balance the lines a bit. IMO.
- Reubenkincade

Ruby....how's things up in the "Mat"? You been out fishing this year? What the deal on the LNG projects up there?

Ruby....how's things up in the "Mat"? You been out fishing this year? What the deal on the LNG projects up there?
- LeftCoaster

Weather has been great, oddly enough, we had 2 lightning Starks in the past 2 days and we barely get 2 in a decade.
Camp is well underway, 4 months in.
Job is good, but man dò Albertans think they are entitled.
Apparently us locals are stealing jobs from Albertans.
I hate Albertans even moreso now than ever before.

Nice to see you posting occasionally.

Was Jake really given an opportunity in the top 6, I don't believe he was.
Coach Green liked Jake on the 3rd line, to help balance the lines a bit. IMO.
- Reubenkincade

The point was Jake thinks of himself as an offensive winger. He was a brute force goal scorer in junior.

Is he ready to give up this notion, and commit himself to the finer details of the style of play to be a productive "3rd line checking winger who can score a bit"

If you are Green, and it's between Leivo and Virtanen on the 3rd line what do you do?

The point was Jake thinks of himself as an offensive winger. He was a brute force goal scorer in junior.

Is he ready to give up this notion, and commit himself to the finer details of the style of play to be a productive "3rd line checking winger who can score a bit"

If you are Green, and it's between Leivo and Virtanen on the 3rd line what do you do?
- 1970vintage

Put one of them on the 4th line.

Put one of them on the 4th line.
- Reubenkincade

Was Jake really given an opportunity in the top 6, I don't believe he was.
Coach Green liked Jake on the 3rd line, to help balance the lines a bit. IMO.
- Reubenkincade

JV has the talent to fit into top 6 role. Maybe he's matured enough to show consistency. There are more options now for TG on what balance and roles he wants to combine for all the lines.

The point was Jake thinks of himself as an offensive winger. He was a brute force goal scorer in junior.

Is he ready to give up this notion, and commit himself to the finer details of the style of play to be a productive "3rd line checking winger who can score a bit"

If you are Green, and it's between Leivo and Virtanen on the 3rd line what do you do?
- 1970vintage

Package one of them with Tanev.

JV has the talent to fit into top 6 role. Maybe he's matured enough to show consistency. There are more options now for TG on what balance and roles he wants to combine.
- NuckUp

Talent and brains are 2 different things it's a shame he doesn't have both.

Package one of them with Tanev.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Cap space, I like where you're headed with this

Cap space, I like where you're headed with this





- 1970vintage

We don't need cap space, we need someone to drive over LE with a bus.

Weather has been great, oddly enough, we had 2 lightning Starks in the past 2 days and we barely get 2 in a decade.
Camp is well underway, 4 months in.
Job is good, but man dò Albertans think they are entitled.
Apparently us locals are stealing jobs from Albertans.
I hate Albertans even moreso now than ever before.

Nice to see you posting occasionally.
- Reubenkincade

I'll have to come up that way when I get home in August, I think a fishing trip up to Prince Rupert is in order. Retiring August 1st.

The problem with a small boom in Kitimat is it brings the twats from Alberta, man I hate those guys, not all of them, but most of them. I think Military people/public servants are the only worse ones lol.

Weather has been great, oddly enough, we had 2 lightning Starks in the past 2 days and we barely get 2 in a decade.
Camp is well underway, 4 months in.
Job is good, but man dò Albertans think they are entitled.
Apparently us locals are stealing jobs from Albertans.
I hate Albertans even moreso now than ever before.

Nice to see you posting occasionally.
- Reubenkincade

JV has the talent to fit into top 6 role. Maybe he's matured enough to show consistency. There are more options now for TG on what balance and roles he wants to combine for all the lines.
- NuckUp

Jake has shown flashes. He is never consistent . He doesn't have a good work regiment . You only get so many kicks at the can and the can has a lot of dents in it now. Time to put out or move out.

JV has the talent to fit into top 6 role. Maybe he's matured enough to show consistency. There are more options now for TG on what balance and roles he wants to combine for all the lines.
- NuckUp

No he doesn't.

We don't need cap space, we need someone to drive over LE with a bus.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Hockey news has the 10 worse contracts in the NHL and LE is not in the top 10 , so the LE hate around here is just a noisy few

We don't need cap space, we need someone to drive over LE with a bus.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Vantel has a cable truck you can borrow.

No he doesn't.
- Marwood

Uhm yes he does..

I'll have to come up that way when I get home in August, I think a fishing trip up to Prince Rupert is in order. Retiring August 1st.

The problem with a small boom in Kitimat is it brings the twats from Alberta, man I hate those guys, not all of them, but most of them. I think Military people/public servants are the only worse ones lol.
- LeftCoaster

Again?
Congrats.