NHL Draft 2014: Vancouver Canucks draft grade
With the sixth overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, the Vancouver Canucks selected left wing Jake Virtanen out of Calgary of the WHL.
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Virtanen was ranked just outside the top 10 at number 11 in the final FanSided NHL draft big board. He’s going to be a good player in this league in the future, but taking him at six was a little to high for my liking.
I feel that the Canucks could have traded back a few spots, picked up an extra pick or two and still snagged Virtanen.
In speaking of the pick, Virtanen said he it wasn’t a surprise to hear his name called by Vancouver.
“I wasn’t too caught off guard the Canucks took me,” he said. “We had a great interview together, they’re great people.”
He has a rocket of a shot, and knows how to put the puck into the net. At 6’1″, 190lbs, Virtanen is a player that likes to throw his body around in order to gain an advantage on the ice. He’s likely two-to-three years away from making the Vancouver roster, but, if he can improve on becoming more of a team-oriented player, Virtanen could be a solid addition to a rebuilding Canucks team.
With their second pick of the night, the Canucks managed to get Jared McCann in a pick I really like. To get a player of that caliber at the 24th spot is a pick of great value.
Final Grade: B+
Sound off Canucks fans! What do you think of Vancouver’s selections Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.