Youngsters Jared McCann and Jake Virtanen, first-round picks in 2014, are sticking round Vancouver for the duration of the season. The club made things official on Sunday:
"WELCOME TO THE TEAM BOYS!!" It's official: @Jake_Virtanen & @jaredmccann19 are #Canucks. pic.twitter.com/HGxZFmp5FQ
With the team forced to choose between keeping them with the big club or returning McCann and Virtanen to their junior teams – the Calgary Hitman and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, respectively – team president Trevor Linden, general manager Jim Benning and head coach Willie Desjardins decided having them stick with the Canucks for the year was the best way to go.
And it is.
McCann leads the team with five goals in nine games, showing right out of the gate this season that he’s capable of being an impact forward and deserving of top six minutes. Virtanen hasn’t tallied his first NHL goal as of yet, but having him stick around still makes sense because 10 good minutes a night and tons of time with the veteran members of this team are far more beneficial to his development than sending him to Calgary – or even the team’s AHL affiliate in Utica – right now.
Historically, teams have shuffled junior-aged players back down to give them more time to develop, but the game is changing and more clubs are starting to change their approach, opting to give young players a chance to gain NHL experience rather than rounding out their lineups with one or two more veteran players.
That’s why Vancouver’s decision – and the one several other clubs have made with their young players – is the correct course of action. Over a long season, 8-10 minutes can turn into 12-15 depending on injuries and on-ice performance, creating a situation where these players can garner more important experience than they would in the minors or junior hockey. The key is ensuring these kids continue to see regular ice time.
Noah Hanifin, the fifth-overall selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, was a healthy scratch last week. The Canes are playing reasonably well so far this season, given that they’re considered a rebuilding team, but if Hanifin can’t crack the top lineup every night, the team isn’t helping him by having him watch from the press box and stick around for practices.
Vancouver has avoided doing a full rebuild, opting instead to make changes on the fly and integrating some of the younger talent into the lineup on a regular basis is critical to that process. Last year, Bo Horvat stuck around and saw his minutes increase as the season went on, becoming a top six forward during Vancouver’s brief playoff run. This year, that same approach should be taken with McCann and Virtanen.
The Canucks have a strong collection of young talent and the best of it is already playing with the big club. That bodes well for the future and should pay dividends this season too.
