RW Jake Virtanen - Calgary Hitmen, WHL (2014, 6th, VAN) II

[Bourdon]

Jake may not be Bo Horvat but Horvat did not have all the tools to start last season. He had a strong defensive game but there was the same debate as to whether he should go back to junior to work on his offence. A lot of people thought that would be best.
Not many predicted the offensive skills he showed in the second half.

That's not really true. While there were concerns with his skating, all reports indicated that it was vastly improved in his draft plus one year. While not necessarily flashy at times, what he does well is think the game at a very high level and that was always going to translate into a promising player.

Virtanen has the tools, but watching him at times, I get the sense that he doesn't know what to do. I trust the coaching at the NHL level to teach him how to read the game better, at least more so than at the junior level. I don't think he'll ever have great hockey sense, but he can still be a productive player with average hockey sense. But make no mistake, his hockey sense is an issue.

 

[Woodhouse]

Hit 1000 posts .. on to part three: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?p=107480213