Henrik Sedin and Thomas Gradin and Brendan Morrison were very good players in their own right. Henrik even won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy.
BUT
There's always a but when it comes to the Canucks
When it came to physical play and the ability to force their will on opposing teams in the playoffs none of them could deliver. There's a physical element to hockey that all three of them, even if willing, lacked.
However, hiding among their group of prospects they may have discovered the answer --
JAKE VIRTANEN
In the mere 2 full seasons Virtanen has played for Vancouver he's shown that past game 50 of every year he's their best player. It's not even close.
His size, strength and easy skating ability makes him the only Vancouver Canuck capable of playing past game 50 and being effective.
We've seen time and time again the rest of this crew fall apart when the NHL kicks it up a gear past the All-Star game.
Even the vaunted Brock Boeser and the mighty Bo Horvat are having massive difficulties keeping up.
But there's one player who is different on the team. One player that can skate with the rest of the NHL - and that's Jake Virtanen.
If you were thinking Elias Pettersson was going to come and be any different - then think again. His size and lack of pure skating ability means he's going to fade, fade, fade during an NHL season.
And playing Center? Forget it.
Virtanen
Horvat
Gaunce
These three first rounders can all keep up to the pace.
Is it the best Center group in the NHL?
No. But you could win a Stanley Cup with that. Boston Bruins did. Las Vegas Golden Knights certainly could. Could Virtanen be a Jonathon Teows? He very well could become him or Bergeron in Boston. Will he be Crosby or Malkin? Nope. But he could be put head-to-head versus Malkin and physically be able to match him and shut him down.
The Canucks could have a real grinding power center ice that could keep up to play and physically set the tone in every game. And that, THAT you can win a Stanley Cup with.
Does Virtanen not remind you of a poor man's Mark Messier? He sure does to me.
Such easy skaters. And Virtanen has a mean streak. His speed allows him to be a butterfly all over the ice setting up his teammates. He's miles ahead of them on almost every play.
I think he's terribly miscast as a winger, especially on this team.
With no centers coming in the pipeline and no centers really available in the draft in the Top 5 where they'll be drafting - the only answer they have is Virtanen.
And they might as well get going on the conversion from winger to center as soon as possible.
They've got 25 games to go here where Virtanen can work on his faceoffs and positional play.
And the other thing they need to do is put Virtanen on the Penalty Kill unit as soon as possible. His speed means a breakaway threat every time he's on the ice.
He's being mishandled by Green and that's apparent.
The more ice time this kid gets the more it's obvious that he's been the horse they've needed for a long time.
He was selected 6th overall in the NHL draft for a reason.
Great shot. Temper. Size. Speed. AND he's shown a terrific hockey IQ as the games have gotten faster.
At times he looks like a man among boys on his team.
Virtanen, Horvat, Gaunce is not a bad Top 1,2,3. It's big. It's physical. It's pretty fast.
And the days of having a Swede or a small center trying to lead the franchise to the promised land has to end.
Throw the A on Virtanen - whip the horse - see where he pulls you.
They have nothing else to attach their wagons to - they might as well.
Want more common sense hockey thoughts?
http://www.michaelmunro.ca/Hockey_Sucks.html
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