Canadian Canuck
Hughes4Calder
Id rest McCann and Virtanen tonight and put in Gaunce+Cracknell. Play McCann and Virts against the Yotes
This is very accurate, and I don't think anyone would be skeptical if Virtanen was the conensus BPA. Bryan Allen was underwhelming for 4th overall in 1998, but every list had him there (it was considered a weaker draft after the top 3, or arguably top 1) and there wasn't much to do about it. For Virtanen, though, the opportunity cost (namely Nylander/Ehlers/Ritchie) is always going to be at issue, and it's not a question of hindsight in this case. It's pretty justifiable to be angsty about it, because a lot of people were nervous he was being picked for the wrong reasons.6th overall doesn't mean a surefire first liner, far from it. People sometimes have really unrealistic expectations of prospects imo. There's a few 6th thought 10th overall picks in the last 10 years that have busted, many others are "just" 2nd liners/2nd pairing defensemen (ex. Zibanejad, Couturier, Connolly, Wilson, Gagner and many more), and just a few are genuine first line/top pairing players.
This is very accurate, and I don't think anyone would be skeptical if Virtanen was the conensus BPA. Bryan Allen was underwhelming for 4th overall in 1998, but every list had him there (it was considered a weaker draft after the top 3, or arguably top 1) and there wasn't much to do about it. For Virtanen, though, the opportunity cost (namely Nylander/Ehlers/Ritchie) is always going to be at issue, and it's not a question of hindsight in this case. It's pretty justifiable to be angsty about it, because a lot of people were nervous he was being picked for the wrong reasons.
I would be fairly disappointed in Virtanen if his ceiling was Kreider given his draft position.
To add to this, many people here like the player, and were happy with him, but liked other more. This seems to be an issue people can't seem to grasp. I can like player A, but want player B more. It bugs me, cause I don't mean to be overly critical of some players, but you almost have to be so people understand your point.
It's fine to want other players more than Jake. But the fact of the matter is that it's done. It's been over a year since he was drafted and people are still complaining about the pick as though it's going to change anything.
Same goes with Horvat. People can complain about wanting Domi or Nichushkin more, but at the end of the day, all they're doing is complaining. Nothing will change.
Jake is our guy. Horvat is our guy. Bringing up other players is just childish whining. It's almost like people want Jake to fail just so they can complain about it even more.
There is an entire thread dedicated to bad drafting. The point being it is a hot topic. If someone wants to claim somehting I think is false or wrong, I will reply. So yes when people either talk like a guy is a goldenboy, its going to come up. The flip side is you still get the i told you so crowd in here. Look at the Sutter thread. What 8 games in and people are saying I told you all he needed was X.
You are going to have that for a forever.
No doubt. I have no problem with criticizing the player. That's absolutely fine. It's just that it always seems to go back to the draft for some reason.
It's fine to want other players more than Jake. But the fact of the matter is that it's done. It's been over a year since he was drafted and people are still complaining about the pick as though it's going to change anything.
Same goes with Horvat. People can complain about wanting Domi or Nichushkin more, but at the end of the day, all they're doing is complaining. Nothing will change.
Jake is our guy. Horvat is our guy. Bringing up other players is just childish whining. It's almost like people want Jake to fail just so they can complain about it even more.
Id rest McCann and Virtanen tonight and put in Gaunce+Cracknell. Play McCann and Virts against the Yotes
Great post. People need to move on. Speculating who has drafted the better player 9 games into their rookie season is just silly at this point. May as well go back to the Nucks taking Dale Tallon over Sittler way back when. Now those were some great draft whiffs.lol.
Really hope he can score one soon.
He's caused quite a lot of turn overs. Unfortunately just no finish.
Id rest McCann and Virtanen tonight and put in Gaunce+Cracknell. Play McCann and Virts against the Yotes
Id rest McCann and Virtanen tonight and put in Gaunce+Cracknell. Play McCann and Virts against the Yotes
Best hit I've seen this year. Vicious, clean, and dropped a big dude with it too in Val Nichushkin. Virtanen is a dying breed. Man can he hit. Let's hope the league let's him.
Best hit I've seen this year. Vicious, clean, and dropped a big dude with it too in Val Nichushkin. Virtanen is a dying breed. Man can he hit. Let's hope the league let's him.
So far he's been very good at throwing clean hits. Even in junior I watched him quite a bit and his hits are very commonly clean and devestating. He has it down to a science. However that did not stop the NHL previously. Alex Edler comes to mind, he threw some massive body checks a few years ago regularly, then the NHL decided to suspend him for touching Mike Smith and a perfectly clean hit on Tomas Hertl. Now Edler is afraid to throw a hit. So you're right, as clean as he is and aware of the rules, the NHL could still hammer him anyway at some point.
Yeah, it's impressive how Virtanen manages be such an effective hitter without crossing the line. He rarely looks like he's taking a run at his target and he keeps his feet on the ice. His talent for skating lets him glide into hits at a speed most guys would have to pump their legs to attain.