The French in you is forever.

- boonerbuck

Merci

Toronto considered all the important factors:

Goal scored by the home team - check
Home team is losing - check
Home team is in a preferred developing market - check
Home team is in a close race for playoff positioning - check
Impeded goalie is a Canuck - check

"Call on the ice stands. We have a good goal."

Pretty straightforward really.
- YeOldTimer

Must be cause the video was extremely clear

i didn't mention his edgework or skating, truthfully, i haven't watched a single game he played in Utica. I would say highlight packages/gifs from time to time online but never had a chance to watch him. I am just saying, he has more games played in his final year of junior than he does the last 2 years/seasons combined. No point in rushing him to the pro's, especially given his injuries.
- Codes1087

I know you didn't but others have - I was just trying to address all aspects of his criticism. And his skating is not the problem - in my mind he needs to be more aggressive, especially in the corners, add more bark AND bite. His puck movement is solid, he's poised in his zone and had great zone exit numbers. His first pass is what we desperately need.
Hopefully in the future he can run a PP2 - because in London and Utica he did a hell of a job - he's more fluid on the blue line - likes to walk it and it helps to breakup the square and open lanes - he also got a dynamite no look pass for one timers - and being a Lefty it would be perfect for Petey.

Brooks... glad you could make it. Saw you talking with my old posts in the last blog long after I left.
- boonerbuck

just left you a note to join us

A thought on Kapanen:

Though I would love to OS him, Toronto could probably get more than a 2nd in a trade for him. They may just trade his rights. With the need on defense, should we be spending assets on Kapapen?

Binnington = Hamburglar 2.0

Binnington = Hamburglar 2.0
- Shuswap Wap

I still remember when Bernier made a nice save when he was in Toronto, and the announcers were going on like "There's your number 1 goalie!". That didn't last long.

A thought on Kapanen:

Though I would love to OS him, Toronto could probably get more than a 2nd in a trade for him. They may just trade his rights. With the need on defense, should we be spending assets on Kapapen?
- Retinalz

Maybe you use the asset of cap space to trade for Kapanen, which upgrades you at the RW position. Then you can try and trade Virtanen to a contender who has some very promising D prospects in their system.

Maybe you use the asset of cap space to trade for Kapanen, which upgrades you at the RW position. Then you can try and trade Virtanen to a contender who has some very promising D prospects in their system.
- YeOldTimer

I would keep Virtanen still personally. He is a good 3rd liner and will likely be a 15-20 goal player, and will likely go above 20 once or twice in his career. He also backchecks hard most nights, hits and plays with speed.

I would keep Virtanen still personally. He is a good 3rd liner and will likely be a 15-20 goal player, and will likely go above 20 once or twice in his career. He also backchecks hard most nights, hits and plays with speed.
- Retinalz

They will need him for the playoffs next season.

They will need him for the playoffs next season.
- Marwood

Virtanen has a better shot at being in rehab next season than scoring 20. Loves the nose candy

Virtanen has a better shot at being in rehab next season than scoring 20. Loves the nose candy
- CanuckDon

I haven't really heard that about him until just now. Source?

I haven't really heard that about him until just now. Source?
- Retinalz

SOurce is I live in Yaletown, I go out too much and I know some players and people in the org. Kid parties. He ain’t kassian level but he needs to grow up. Same with his fat friend Hutton

Virtanen has a better shot at being in rehab next season than scoring 20. Loves the nose candy
- CanuckDon

Cool. I don't think they are making the playoffs next year.

SOurce is I live in Yaletown, I go out too much and I know some players and people in the org. Kid parties. He ain’t kassian level but he needs to grow up. Same with his fat friend Hutton
- CanuckDon

Saw them once at Cascades and saw Jake once in a bar downtown with some dude I didn’t recognize, and 2 smoke shows. Jake looked pissed/annoyed though

Saw them once at Cascades and saw Jake once in a bar downtown with some dude I didn’t recognize, and 2 smoke shows. Jake looked pissed/annoyed though
- Nucker101

He is getting laid a lot so at least he is having fun ..... fully needs out of Van though

I would keep Virtanen still personally. He is a good 3rd liner and will likely be a 15-20 goal player, and will likely go above 20 once or twice in his career. He also backchecks hard most nights, hits and plays with speed.
- Retinalz

I like his size, speed and shot as well. However the way he plays doesn't make the players around him better. So if you net out the extra goals that could be created by another player with a higher hockey IQ, maybe his effective goal total is still only in the 10-12 range. That might dictate his ideal usage to be 4th line rather than 3rd. Hope I'm wrong but that's kinda how I see his career going at the moment.

just left you a note to join us
- Brooks_Light

Irony is quite rich

I like his size, speed and shot as well. However the way he plays doesn't make the players around him better. So if you net out the extra goals that could be created by another player with a higher hockey IQ, maybe his effective goal total is still only in the 10-12 range. That might dictate his ideal usage to be 4th line rather than 3rd. Hope I'm wrong but that's kinda how I see his career going at the moment.
- YeOldTimer

Teams can't afford 12 forwards who make other players better. JV has a skillset we need and can play with those guys who make other players better.

Wonder if JB takes a shot at Cody Ceci? Hear good things and bad things about him.

A thought on Kapanen:

Though I would love to OS him, Toronto could probably get more than a 2nd in a trade for him. They may just trade his rights. With the need on defense, should we be spending assets on Kapapen?
- Retinalz

If Kap can be a long term top 6 sure.
So hard to say until Sven is here & healthy.
The draft could net us a F. All in all if we are deep thru 3 lines times will be good.

Is he true top 6 or 9?
He can go up n down the lines.

Maybe you use the asset of cap space to trade for Kapanen, which upgrades you at the RW position. Then you can try and trade Virtanen to a contender who has some very promising D prospects in their system.
- YeOldTimer

Gaining assets i’m down for & does as you say give us more trade flexibility. Hold off til we get our next ufa & where he plays.

Teams can't afford 12 forwards who make other players better. JV has a skillset we need and can play with those guys who make other players better.
- Retinalz

Not trying to be smart ass but I don't see a skill set. He has 32 goals since being drafted 2 fights and about 10 big hits.
If he was good at at least one thing I wouldn't look at him as another Hansen .

I would keep Virtanen still personally. He is a good 3rd liner and will likely be a 15-20 goal player, and will likely go above 20 once or twice in his career. He also backchecks hard most nights, hits and plays with speed.
- Retinalz

His biggest issue is consistency.
Patience could pay dividends or decide it’s not happenning & he’s moved. That is a very difficult decision to make.

Not trying to be smart ass but I don't see a skill set. He has 32 goals since being drafted 2 fights and about 10 big hits.
If he was good at at least one thing I wouldn't look at him as another Hansen .
- VANTEL

I wouldn't be apposed to dealing him, provided we don't undersell.