Canucks: 3 reasons why Jake Virtanen is a healthy scratch right now
With four straight wins, the Vancouver Canucks have crawled their way out of a difficult 2-5 start to the season and currently find themselves sitting in third place in Scotiabank’s seven-team all-Canadian North division.
Jake Virtanen — a player many thought would rise to the occasion this year — unfortunately, hasn’t been a part of the Canucks recent success. The 24-year-old local kid, who scored a career-high 18 goals last season, only has one goal to show for himself in 2021. Struggling to produce anything offensively, he’s been pointless in his last five appearances, and as a result, he’s been a healthy scratch the last two games.
It’s no secret that Virtanen has battled ups and downs in Vancouver and that he’s had his fair share of problems with Canucks’ coach Travis Green. It’s been a long six years for the former sixth-overall draft pick no doubt, but there comes a point where you start to wonder when enough is enough.
It seems to be an ongoing cycle as this is nothing new in Vancouver, we’ve all seen it. Somehow, Virtanen falls out of favour before finding his way back into the lineup somehow, either through injury or because of a needed shakeup. When he draws back in he does just enough to secure a spot, and then he coasts again until history repeats itself. This time though, the clock may finally be running out for Shotgun Jake. Here are a few reasons why.
Move over Tuna, Big Mac is here
One big reason Virtanen is being held out of the lineup is because Zack MacEwen is doing all the right things in his place. Yes, looking at his stats he too may have just one lone goal, but in eight games MacEwen has proven that he isn’t afraid to get physical.
A pretty solid tilt between Brady Tkachuk and Zack MacEwen. 🥊#NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/QcQyu1A9Z3
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 29, 2021
‘Big Mac’ has laid the body on multiple occasions and continues to show that he can drop the gloves in defence of any teammate. That’s something that’s slowly being forgotten in today’s game and the Canucks can use some of that old-school bite that he brings to the table. The rough side of his game is what’s he’s best at, and if he keeps delivering the hits then the goals will come as a bonus eventually.
MacEwen knows that as a middle-six right-winger playing on a team whose star players aren’t exactly physically dominant, it’s vital for the Canucks to have someone in that spot that can step up and deal with any threats towards players like Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. And if Virtanen isn’t willing to be that guy, MacEwen is ready to continue filling the role. Potentially for good.
Hoglander is like a dog on a bone
Who would have thought that the Canucks’ 2nd round selection in the 2019 NHL Entry draft would be a better fit next to Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson than the six-year pro, Jake Virtanen?
After an offseason where the Canucks right side depth was obliterated due to the losses of UFA right-shots Tyler Toffoli and Josh Leivo, Virtanen seemed like the inevitable first choice to fill the position. All the right boxes were checked off: Virtanen was emerging as a future 20-goal scorer, he was getting power play time, and he was next on the depth chart.
Travis Green didn’t see it that way. In fact, he never did. Green gave Nils Hoglander the position right out of the gate of training camp and he’s been keen on the trio ever since. Surprisingly, Hoglander has been the perfect puzzle piece to Horvat’s revolving door of right-wingers, and not just offensively either.
Yes, Hoglander can bring it when he’s got the puck on his stick. His six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 11 games can attest to that. But it turns out that Hoglander can play defence too. In fact, when he’s not bringing the puck up ice, he’s like a dog on a bone when he’s trying to get it back. The energy is relentless as his motor never dies. His assist to Tanner Pearson a few nights ago is the perfect example of his hard work.
https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1353922491232579584
Just 11 games under his belt in the NHL, but Hoglander is already being more of a sparkplug for the Canucks than Virtanen has ever been. He’s got a work ethic for days and his ability to adapt his defensive game on the fly has been something special to witness.
Yet again, the Canucks might have another Calder Trophy candidate in their ranks
Bottom-six players are contributing more
Not only has Virtanen’s top-six competition (Hoglander, MacEwen) been outplaying him, but a few of Vancouver’s bottom-six forwards are rising up and contributing to the team’s success more than Virtanen is.
Their spots in the lineup were more or less already considered to be a given, but Brandon Sutter and Tyler Motte have been hungry goal-getters early on for the Canucks. Sutter netted his first career hat-trick in a 7-1 win over the Ottawa Senators the other night and Motte already has five goals on the season, enough for a tie for third place on the team.
After a healthy scratch and a -5 plus/minus, Adam Gaudette returned to the lineup and has looked like a rocket shot out of a cannon ever since. He hasn’t got going offensively just yet, but the speed and energy he brings to the lineup is something Green will choose time and time again.
Final thoughts…
Next. Canucks: The Lotto Line is key to the team's success. dark
The Vancouver Canucks have finally found their identity this season and right now Virtanen doesn’t look to be a part of the picture. Will he have another crack at the lineup soon or is Jim Benning working the phones to try and find the Canucks a trade partner?