Canucks: What Jake Virtanen could get in arbitration

The Vancouver Canucks qualified restricted free agent forward Jake Virtanen and he’s filed for arbitration. Here’s what he could earn next year with the Canucks.

Jake Virtanen of the Vancouver Canucks is headed for arbitration to try to earn a big payday.

After a very disappointing performance in the 2020 NHL Playoffs, many fans of Virtanen and the Canucks figured he had played his final game in green and blue colours. However, despite only scoring two goals and adding one assist through 16 playoff games, the restricted free agent was eventually qualified by general manager Jim Benning.

It seemed like a bit of a head-scratcher to the majority of Canucks Nation. Virtanen has been given every opportunity over the last six years to live up to expectations and for the most part, he’s been very up and down in that regard.

Maybe it’s the everyday grind that Virtanen seems to struggle with because, for the first time ever, the New Westminster native arrived at training camp out of shape twice in one season. That resulted in head coach Travis Green struggling to have faith in him at both ends of the ice and it also gave the fans a glimpse of captain Bo Horvat‘s bad side. After taking his anger out at practice with a dirty hit (because he was out of shape), Horvat let him hear it.

Now, Virtanen is headed to arbitration and because of his career-year offensively, the kid is about to get a hefty raise. After making a reasonable $1.25 million last year, Virtanen’s 18 goals could garner him a dollar amount somewhere in the $3 million range.

That’s likely more than Benning wants to cough up for the streaky 24-year-old, but after striking out in free agency, the Canucks GM really doesn’t have any choice in the matter. Of course, a trade could happen between now and then,  but that doesn’t change the fact that Virtanen is headed for arbitration.

If you look at last year’s arbitration hearing between Andrew Copp and the Winnipeg Jets, Copp was awarded $2.25 million AAV over two years. The centre scored 11 goals and had 25 points through 69 games. With that in mind, Virtanen could easily land a deal over $3 million AAV.

Virtanen has shown glimpses of what it takes to be a top-six forward. He has the tools to get it done, but he needs to learn how to put it all together. He’ll get one last chance to put in the work this offseason, come to camp in shape and become the 20+ goal scorer everyone wants to see him become.

Time will tell what happens between the Canucks and Virtanen and it’ll be interesting to see if they can avoid arbitration. What do you think Canucks fans? Will Virtanen get a big pay raise if he reaches arbitration?