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On any shift in any game, Jake Virtanen will do one or more of the following:

• Use a deceptive long and powerful stride to wheel around a defender.

• Use a thick torso to deliver a heavy bodycheck to an unsuspecting foe.

• Use an underrated release to beat a goalie from distance, deke or wraparound.

• Forget the above, lead the team in giveaways and drive the coach crazy.

“The thing with Jake is he’s effective on any line,” said Vancouver Canucks coach Travis Green. “He helped the checking line at times last year and can bring energy to the fourth line.

“Has he shown that he’s a top-six guy yet? Probably not. And that would be the next step, the next evolution in his game. He doesn’t have to be anything more than his best. And I don’t think we’ve seen it yet and I’m anxious for us to get to that point.”

So is Virtanen.

Simply stated, this is go-time. A two-year, US$2.5-million bridge contract extension on July 25 should be motivation rather than security for the 22-year-old New Westminster native and Abbotsford-raised hockey product. He’s a better player than he was a year ago — especially in decisions with and without the puck — but for Virtanen it’s never really been about the tools. It’s been about the tool box.