Virtanen train keeps chugging

How did the Canucks word it?

Oh yeah, they’d “make room.”

That is if any of their young players proved ready in the preseason. Looks like it’s time to start razing a local mountain.

Jake Virtanen looks ready. Like Floyd Mayweather in the 10th. It doesn’t mean he’s going to look that way all season. Remember Sergei Shirokov? Ryan Shannon? Great preseasons right before they unceremoniously dissolved.

There are all sorts of reasons to keep Virtanen in Vancouver. His relationship with head coach Travis Green has shifted continents. Green is tough, demanding and brutally honest and Virtanen drinks in tough love like toddlers chug milk.

And Green’s system, simple and aggressive, plays to Virtanen’s strengths. And weaknesses. Green wants players to go more and think less. That’s sweet, sweet music for No. 18.

Most importantly, however, Virtanen has done his job. He scored again in the Canucks preseason finale. He finishes with four goals and six points in six games. He’s shown to be professional and matured.

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He started well in the preseason and got better.

Will it last?

The Canucks can take some time to figure that out, and that time should begin with the season opener next Saturday.

Hello, Burmistrov

He arrived. Better later than never.

It hasn’t been an easy month for him. He admitted several preseason games “I just got lost in the game.”

He said he’s still learning. New coach, new team and all of that.

“I felt like my legs were moving a lot better tonight,” he said. “It was tough games for me before. No legs. I had nothing going on.”

Oh well, that’s some honesty.

“It was probably the trip to China. But it’s getting better now.”

Despite having no legs and “nothing” going on, Burmistrov was always a lock for opening night. The Canucks really like him. So did a lot of fans tonight.

Burmistrov high on Virtanen

“I feel like he’s really working. I can’t remember having seen him play, just heard about him. Everyone talks about him.”

Everyone talks about him? Hmmm.

“This year I think he blocked out a lot and just came to play hockey. He hasn’t been worried about what happened in the past.

“Think that’s working for him. He looks good. He’s fast. He’s moving his legs. That’s the main thing. If he’s moving, he’s unstoppable.”

The third wasn’t good for my PTSD

Green loved him some Megna tonight.

Third period ice times:

Megna: 5:48

Virtanen: 2:05

Boeser: 3:15

Ya, had to check that a few times. Everyone talking about how Boeser had one shift in the final 11 minutes, meanwhile JV18 had a seat for all but 2 mins of the third.

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What gives?

Green: “I went with three lines. They went with three lines. That’s just coaching.”

Ok, but neither Virtanen or Boeser were included in those three lines. That’s going to be a little unsettling for many who have assumed they’re on the team.

It’s deployment like that which will have us second guessing a couple players we had for locks for opening night.

Buckle for outrage

If Virtanen or Boeser or god help us all both aren’t on the team and Megna is, there are people who will lose their minds.

Boeser faded

Man, I had to wince when JPat pointed out to Boeser he had no shots or shot attempts. JPat was spot on but it couldn’t have been easy hearing it.

Green in Boeser’s ear

Green’s most consistent message to young players has to do with getting them to “move their feet.”

Boeser was all about this when asked what he needs to improve on.

“The big thing is to move my feet when I have the puck. It’s a huge thing that can separate me if I start doing that a lot more. Some of the small battles I did well but I can improve on some battles where I win but the second guy comes in and takes it. I can be stronger on the puck.”

Reason for optimism

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Reason for pessimism

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Canucks need to flip their power plays

Daniel Sedin was in the penalty box and Henrik was on the bench with his face split open.

That’s what it took to get the Canucks second power play out first. It nearly scored too. It would have been its second goal.

The Canucks first unit went 0-for-the-preseason.

Though Green said it could have been way different.

“The first game in China, they could have scored three or four goals,” Green countered.

I honestly have no recollection of that so it’s entirely possible.

“It’s not about the end result, especially this time of year.”

Thing is, Newell’s P1 looks a lot like other PP1s the Canucks have rolled out in recent years. There’s still not a home run scorer on it. None of Vanek, the Sedins, Gagner or Edler shoot enough.

The 1-3-1 can work but the flanks in the middle part or the pt man up high have to be shooters and really with the Canucks alignment none are.

For a couple years now, the Sedins have openly talked about their willingness to step aside in their roles if younger players prove to be better.

The time is now. The second unit out-paced the Sedins last year. Bo Horvat put up 4.27 points per 60 power play minutes played.

Henrik’s points-per-hour were 3.5. It’s been even more pronounced this preseason.

Oh man, I hope not:

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Suddenly I want to believe in the Loui bounce back

Maybe it was the spin move. Or maybe it’s because other than Granlund, there hasn’t been much from the veterans all month.

But I want to get in on the Eriksson bounce back train.

After seeing the twins with Vanek, I found myself longing for the Eriksson days.

But there is another option. I asked Sat to come up with a line that would have the best chance to win matchups regularly.

Out of nowhere, he came up with Eriksson, Horvat and Granlund.

Immediately, I wanted to see it. And as time passed. I became convinced that had potential to be the Canucks best line.

Canucks are going to be aggressive this season. There will be times they’ll pay dearly for it.

Take the Oilers first goal.

There were 11 seconds left in the first. Canucks were forechecking. Defenceman Patrick Wiercicoch was actually behind the Edmonton net when the puck rolled around the boards. Brandon Sutter couldn’t keep it in. All of a sudden the Oilers were on the rush with Sam Gagner and Alex Biega trying to defend them.

Just like that, Edmonton scored and did with two seconds left.

Andrey Pedan needs to play games

If the Canucks do keep Pedan, they have to find a way to work him regularly into the lineup. Since he turned pro five years ago he’s averaged 40 games a season.

That’s not enough. He’s 24 years old and at the make-it-or-break-it chapter of his career. He needs ice time.

It’s a bad sign when the coach doesn’t know your name

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It’s been fascinating to observe the attention focused on Darren Archibald recently. To think, this guy didn’t even play a game last year for a team ravaged with injuries and without Derek Dorsett all season. To think, he came to training camp without an NHL contract.

And to think at the end of the preseason, it sure looked like he had a better chance of making this team than former Willie Desjardins’ favourites Michael Chaput and Jayson Megna.

It sure didn’t sound encouraging when Green pronounced Chaput as “Cha-put” rather than “shapoo.”

Seeing Vanek with twins was enough to pine for the Loui Eriksson days

Earlier this week, Green half-jokingly said he called for Thomas Vanek and the Sedins to get on the ice for a preseason shift together but they were too slow. They missed their chance.

Hilarious in preseason. Not so much after a regular season game in which they get their teeth kicked in at even strength.

Could this line happen?

Well, it did in the preseason finale which is often considered the dress rehearsal for the regular season. It wasn’t terrible. Together, they even had a nearly exciting odd-man rush in the third period. Vanek fumbled the opportunity, however, when he passed to the boards rather than shooting. He had all kinds of space to get something on net.

Maybe part of that is because he’s a natural right winger playing the left side with the twins, though he has been there before. Most of last year with

The line was slow. That part wasn’t encouraging. Vanek just isn’t going to sweat the defensive side of the game often enough. Generally, he needs some shelter to be at his most effective and he’s not likely to get that playing with the twins at even strength.

The Sedins had all kinds of linemates this month. Funny, but when the preseason was over it was hard not to think the best winger for them is Loui Eriksson.