Virtanen ‘learning how to be a pro’
Canucks GM Benning says former top pick needs time on farm team to mature his game
In some respects, this story is as old as the red line.
Hotshot prospect comes to team armed with press clippings and hotshot prospect experiences some early success, which only adds to the hype.
But hotshot prospect soon finds out playing in the NHL is a lot more demanding than anyone let on. The game that was always so easy for him is suddenly a struggle. Everything, in fact, is a struggle.
Eventually he’s sent to the minors, where he has to reassess his priorities. Sometimes he comes out the other side a better player. Sometimes he never reclaims that early promise.
I mean, how many times have you read that story in connection with the Canucks? Does the name Cody Hodgson ring any bells? How about Jordan Schroeder? Josh Holden? No matter how good they look, you never know what you have because you’re never certain what’s inside the kid.
Which brings us around to Jake Virtanen.
The sixth-overall pick in the 2014 draft is currently playing for the Utica Comets and if his stint in the minors is helping develop his game, it doesn’t exactly show in his statistics: 34 games, 5-4-9 and minus seven. It’s a chilling set of numbers and it raises a number of uncomfortable questions for the player and the organization.
Virtanen, after all, was supposed to be a cornerstone piece for a rebuilding organization. Now? Well, like we said, this story can go a couple of different ways.
“The problem with Jake is he’s never had any adversity in his career,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said over the phone from Sweden, where he’s scouting the Five Nations U18 tournament. “He’s always been able to sail along on his talent.
“This is a wake-up call. He’s learning how to be a pro and that’s in the weight room, his nutrition and his workouts. With him it’s about his habits, his day-to-day habits. He’s taking ownership of that.” Benning pauses. “I’m not concerned. He’s going to be fine. This was the best thing for him.” On that point we shall see. Despite the story Virtanen’s numbers tell, Benning believes the 20-year-old from Abbotsford has benefited greatly from his time in Utica, N.Y. The Canucks’ GM said he’s getting a chance to play 16 to 18 minutes a game in all situations and he’s getting more practice time than he would with the Canucks. He also said his game has matured under the tutelage of Comets head coach Travis Green.
“This was better for his long-term development,” said Benning.
But a season in Utica wasn’t part of the long-term plan for Virtanen. Last season, he went 7-6-13 in 55 games with the Canucks and, after an unfortunate turn at the World Juniors, was a fixture in the lineup. Those are promising numbers for a 19-year-old power forward and the presumption was he would take another step toward stardom this season.
You know what happened next. The problem, according to Benning, is Virtanen thought he had to be bigger to play the power game and showed up at camp weighing 228 pounds, setting off alarm bells throughout the organization. The extra weight hurt Virtanen’s speed. It also impaired his conditioning and it soon became apparent there was a problem.
Virtanen struggled through training camp and the first 10 games of the Canucks’ season before he was dispatched to Utica, called up for a couple of games, then sent back in early November.
“In his own mind he wanted to play at that size, but the game is so fast now,” said Benning. “He has to be quick. He could only go for a 30-, 35-second shift. Now he’s down to 216 (pounds) and goes a minute hard.”
But how could a young pro struggle with a weight problem?
“There are no issues with him off the ice,” said Benning. “It’s just a thing where he needs to mature and learn how to be a pro. We have a certain standard. He needs to get to that standard.” Benning continued. “I know the media is saying he’s not scoring, so he’s not developing. But I think Travis is happy with the way he’s playing. He’s playing physical and taking pucks to the net.
“The scoring part will come. For Jake it’s learning how to play the right way.”
So will we see him in Vancouver this year?
“The only way we’ll call him up is if we get injuries and he can play regularly,” said Benning, who added: “This whole thing is part of the development. There are going to be ups-and-downs with a player. Some of the guys we mentioned (William Nylander, Nik Ehlers, Dylan Larkin, Robby Fabbri, who were drafted behind Virtanen) are playing and helping their teams. Jake’s path is different, but once we get him to the level he needs to be, he’s going to help our team.”
And that would give this story the happy ending everyone is hoping for.