[Rumour] Oilers, and only the Oilers, are the finalist for Virtanen

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Because if your leadership core says no, then he's not coming to CGY. If they're cool with it. Then you have to ask if your heroes are all that much better for supporting and wanting to play with an acquitted alleged rapist.

…but he was acquitted. So, he may not have actually done anything wrong. If the legal system acquitted him, why should we judge anyone for being ok with playing on a team with him?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by OldSam

Ha. Ha. Ha. Being a finalist to sign a PTO with an exceedingly lazy, arrogant, not really good player is not something to brag about Stauffer. Would have been better to just pretend it never existed.

Just a little Devils advocate thought here, but what if his exile cure the arrogance and laziness? What then? I imagine it's been a tough pill to swallow for a couple years for Virtanen.


And to be clear, I have zero desire for this player to play for CGY. Don't think he's good enough. But if he earns it in camp, then that's another story.

I think we would all agree Sutter won't put up with any BS from his players.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by VilleN

…but he was acquitted. So, he may not have actually done anything wrong. If the legal system acquitted him, why should we judge anyone for being ok with playing on a team with him?

I'm not. I have no real skin in the game when it comes to his personal affairs. On ice product? Just don't think Sutter can milk anything out of him.


Not even sure why you replied to my post when there are many other who support a potential signing. Seeing as I very clearly typed and your Bolded quote "Acquitted, alleged"

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Lazar already signed a three-year deal with the Canucks, but I'd like to see the Flames bring in Tyler Motte.

Yeah, completely disagree with you on your assertion that Puljujarvi has value up to 5M but can agree that I wouldn't be opposed to Motte on the bottom 6. Except I'd rather have the Flames add to their top 6 than the bottom 6.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1505982046115708932

[Jetfire]

I'm so uninterested in Virtanen that I'd rather bring back Neal first.

[Locke]

Being grouped with the Oilers is like looking up which countries still dont use the metric system and understanding that its just not a group you want to be associated with in any way.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I don't understand why so many here object to signing players with some personal issues in the past. We don't know the real details in most cases. Patrick Kane was accused (and subsequently acquitted) of rape, yet it would have been a dream to most of us here to have him play on the Huberdeau - Lindholm line somehow. For the record, I was in favour of signing Evander Kane both times he was available recently. Yes, he might be an a$$hole, but he can play hockey very well and, as it turned out, he has contributed significantly to the Oilers' series win over the Flames. Flames signed Todd Bertuzzi after his (almost criminal) hit and he has become an instant fan favourite. Flames had other fan-favorite players with serious substance abuse issues (Fleury, McGrattan, Ferland etc.). In the not so distant past without social media, general public didn't even know any of the players' personal issues. This is a game hockey, not Supreme Court nominations.

Yup doesn’t bother me. I don’t worship hockey players like some high moral standards. Unless they committed a crime, they don’t bother me.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Yup doesn’t bother me. I don’t worship hockey players like some high moral standards. Unless they committed a crime, they don’t bother me.

OK, but there is pretty significant risk that thus particular player committed a very serious crime...

[Enoch Root]

Lots of reasons to be against signing Virtanen, but laziness isn't a good one - no one is going to be lazy and have a place on Sutter's bench.

Virtanen probably wants a chance at redemption. I would imagine the effort would be there. And there was always a thread of talent there.

If he could focus on hockey, and put together a bit of a comeback year, he could potentially be a positive addition to our RW depth.

[Vinny01]

Do not want

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I don't understand why so many here object to signing players with some personal issues in the past. We don't know the real details in most cases. Patrick Kane was accused (and subsequently acquitted) of rape, yet it would have been a dream to most of us here to have him play on the Huberdeau - Lindholm line somehow. For the record, I was in favour of signing Evander Kane both times he was available recently. Yes, he might be an a$$hole, but he can play hockey very well and, as it turned out, he has contributed significantly to the Oilers' series win over the Flames. Flames signed Todd Bertuzzi after his (almost criminal) hit and he has become an instant fan favourite. Flames had other fan-favorite players with serious substance abuse issues (Fleury, McGrattan, Ferland etc.). In the not so distant past without social media, general public didn't even know any of the players' personal issues. This is a game hockey, not Supreme Court nominations.

Yeah, I don't care too much either. I'm not going to associate with them. As long as the courts have dealt with them and they show up and do the job..pffft, really what does it matter.
Ha, I remember when we got Gilmour. INSTANT fan favourite and the slightest mention of his past was something like "well yeah, but it's not like he went to jail or anything". Mind you, I don't remember the details being as descriptive as to what's available now. At least not as easy to find. My point remains. He's about as disgusting a person that's played, but nobody I remember cared.

Anyone who's against bringing players in with criminal, or at least allegedly criminal pasts... if you were guaranteed a cup with that player, what would you say?
It's questionable we would've won in '89 without Gilmour.

[topfiverecords]

Would rather have Michael Stone on the RW.

[DoubleK]

I had no idea so many people on CP know Jake Virtanen on a personal level.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I had no idea so many people on CP know Jake Virtanen on a personal level.

There's lots of hockey heroes just as bad or worse than what the perception of Virtanen is. We just don't know who they are... but many in the industry do

We were spoiled with Iginla. Turns out lots of people are just awful and hockey culture seems to have a multiplier

[FlamesFanFromBC]

I'm not a fan of Virtanen but he was acquitted in a court of law.

Jury finds former Vancouver Canuck Jake Virtanen not guilty of sexual assault (Article)

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I'm not. I have no real skin in the game when it comes to his personal affairs. On ice product? Just don't think Sutter can milk anything out of him.


Not even sure why you replied to my post when there are many other who support a potential signing. Seeing as I very clearly typed and your Bolded quote "Acquitted, alleged"

Because you implied that the character of our hockey ‘heroes’ may not be that great if they are ok playing with an acquitted alleged rapist. I was questioning why that would affect theirs, or anyone else’s character.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

You guys are acting like he would be a mainstay in the lineup. I find it extremely difficult seeing him as a top 12 player.

Actually, I think people are acting like he would be in the dressing room., and it is enough for them to say "No, thanks."

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanFromBC

I'm not a fan of Virtanen but he was acquitted in a court of law.

Jury finds former Vancouver Canuck Jake Virtanen not guilty of sexual assault (Article)

Yeah, but there is a still a pending civil suit before the courts. It won't be a good look on him or the team if a civil court finds him liable. His legal situation isn't complete.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Jetfire

I'm so uninterested in Virtanen that I'd rather bring back Neal first.

[Mass_nerder]

Personal issues aside, I don't think he's a good player, so I hope they don't sign him.
Let him be Edmonton's yearly "this guy will score 40 goals with McDavid", who ends up putting up 4.