The only Vancouver Canucks player to take the team to arbitration this year has signed. Jake Virtanen‘s new two-year deal carries a cap hit of $2.55 million each year. That’s a raise from his previous “Show Me” deal of one year and $1.25 million.
#Canucks sign Jake Virtanen to a 2 year deal worth $2.55 million AAV
— Randip Janda (@RandipJanda) October 22, 2020
Jake Virtanen Re-Signs
To say Virtanen’s career has been eventful is an understatement. His very selection was controversial, taken sixth overall in 2014 ahead of more accomplished scorers like William Nylander and Nikolaj Ehlers. The selection was understandable at the time, though. Virtanen was from New Westminster, and every team feels pressure to select home-grown talents. His draft year was a GM’s dream. He was a big, fast, hard-hitting winger who scored 45 goals in 71 games – all features the Canucks needed. And truth be told, he is still a big, fast, hard-hitting winger with a very good shot. His scoring has improved each year in the NHL, culminating in 18 goals and 18 assists in 69 games. Yet there was still some question whether Virtanen would even get a qualifying offer.
What This Means for the Future
For all “Shotgun” Jake’s talent, he has been ultimately frustrating for both coaches and fans alike. His first playoff appearance only produced two goals and three points in 16 games. Jake Virtanen plays his best – and it’s quite a good best – in straight lines. He doesn’t think the game very well and has difficulty improvising when a play breaks down. This means he’s easily beaten on the defensive side of the puck, which doesn’t earn the trust of his coaches. That conflation makes Virtanen a frequent subject of conversation. And the target of his captain’s ire on their return to play last year.
Bo Horvat on his exchange with Jake Virtanen during the scrimmage the other night: I’m trying to keep things competitive, keep things fair. Keep everyone in the right mindset. #Canucks via @BatchHockey
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) July 18, 2020
But this season, what choice do the Canucks have? If no other option is brought in on the right side, they could well see this frustrating, talented player on the first line for 2020-21. Neither Brandon Sutter nor Loui Eriksson can take advantage of Elias Pettersson‘s offensive brilliance. Brock Boeser, for all his fearsome shot, is far better defensively than Virtanen. That’s extremely important because whoever’s on Bo Horvat‘s line is going to see a whole lot of their opponent’s best.
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