After being called out by head coach Travis Green, it’s easy to wonder if Jake Virtanen’s time with the Vancouver Canucks is running up.
The Vancouver Canucks have been more than patient with 2014 first round pick Jake Virtanen, as they continue to hold out hope that he’ll grow into a consistent 20 to 30-goal scorer.
In many cases NHL teams give up on high end prospects if they haven’t reached their full ceiling within five years. The Arizona Coyotes gave up on Dylan Strome — the No. 3 selection in a stacked 2015 draft class, to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Buffalo Sabres drafted Alexander Nylander with the No. 8 pick in 2016, but he only appeared in 19 games for the franchise over a three-year span before they sent him to the Blackhawks in July.
But the Canucks have displayed patience with Virtanen time and time again. He and former head coach Willie Desjardins didn’t see eye to eye, but management understood that. Once Green was hired as the new bench boss, one of his immediate tasks was to help Virtanen develop his game at the professional level.
However, Green wasted no time in expressing his disappointment and frustration with Virtanen after Friday’s skate in Victoria. Here’s what coach Green had to say, per Patrick Johnston of the Vancouver Province:
"“I think he’s a big part of our team. He’s a big part of my future, so I don’t want people to start reading anything other than he wasn’t in the groups today.Jake and I have had lots of conversations over the years and a few times over the summer and at the end of the season. Jake wants to be better as well and wants to progress as a player. And I want him to take a step, even start to become a leader on the team.And you know, there are certain expectations that he wanted to reach and I wanted him to reach, and we both agreed there were goals that would have to be met and if he didn’t reach them, he probably wouldn’t be with the first two groups on the first day of camp. But there’s nothing more than that.”"
The Canucks have received a mere 32 goals and 59 points in 210 games from Virtanen, over a four-year span. He showed 20-goal potential last season after lighting the lamp 15 times in 70 games.
But the 2019-20 season is already off to a bad start for Virtanen. After all, nobody wants to be called out by their own coach during training camp. And the clock is starting to tick on the 23-year-old.
In the offseason, I explained why the Canucks needed to be patient and hold on to Virtanen for now. I still think that, but you do have to wonder how much longer this organization can wait on him to reach his full potential.
The regular season hasn’t started yet, and who knows? Maybe Virtanen will finally blossom into a 20 or 30-goal man. But if he fails to meet or surpass expectations in 2019-20, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team decided to move on from him.
The Canucks have plenty of young talent on their roster, and they’ll be able to get by — with or without Virtanen. But this team invested a top pick and five years of patience in him. It’s time for Virtanen to pay them back with a big year.