Aaronp18 wrote:So in less than 5 games he's up to the second line, possesses good speed, skill, intensity and physicality, last night he grabbed his first assist and took a coincidental roughing penalty in the first. He's bowling over guys bigger and with more pro experience than him.....Hockey Widow wrote:On Virtanen.
Yes, but there are two things working against him. First it is Canucks or junior, Utica is not an option. So like Bo they have to decide if staying with the big club better suites his development better than finishing junior as a top six, go to the World juniors and work on his fitness vs practicing everyday with the Canucks, sporadic playing time on the third/fourth line, the ability to work on his physical fitness at a pro level.
The second is his physical fitness. They want him to be able to have 40-45 seconds shifts without being gassed. This he has to work in over the summer. I think if he succeeds in increasing his aerobic fitness he stands a good chance to make the tea. If not, he will go back to junior.
The fitness issue by the way is what I was told is the Kassian problem. He blows his wad on 25 second shifts and then is a liability until he gets off the ice. This is what they were pushing him for last year. They saw his defensive lapses and poor decisions with the puck, the mJority of the time, happening in the last 10-15 seconds of his shifts.
The defensive coverage, playing away from the puck they see too as mostly a fitness issue.
I was heartened to hear that was what they saw as his weakness because that can be corrected. He has to learn to be a pro and prepare as an NHLer. Easily done if he has the desire. This was also why they didn't trade him. They think he gets it so how he shows up to camp could be his last chance to show it. Of course like everyone else he too could be traded but from what I hear they haven't given up on him. I guess we need to wait out the next two to three weeks to what decisions have been made.