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

[MrMike]

Virtanen on a PTO is fine. It's a try out. And honestly after everything that has happened to the guys career and life between splitting time exiled to Russia and a court room, some serious soul searching had to be done. If he doesn't see this is a last chance to get your #### together, then someone like Sutter will see in a moment, let alone a week if he see's what and where this guy is at.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Groot

"What does an acquitted rapist, a serial wife abuser, and a murderer have in common?"

Not that I have any love for Virtanen but how are these 3 things comparable?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Goofball is a perfect description for that guy. Tongue picking his boogers all game long.

Basically a less malevolent Ville Nieminen. If you're going to be an oddball at least strike fear into the opposition.

[stang]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Stauffer wouldn't have inside sources with Flames management. Not even the beat writers have that sort of access.

Stauffer was pushing the Kadri to the flames for days before it happened. Even when one of his guests (John Shannon I believe) said he didn’t see it.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Spec suggests Virtanen will not be an Oiler, but I don't know what he's playing at with his jab at Puljujarvi. Completely unnecessary, and the two players aren't even remotely comparable.

Because Puljujarvi is still very much a work in progress, and obviously Spector doesn't think he is the $4-5M player that you do.

Puljujarvi has not been able to solidify a spot anywhere on their roster, despite his tool set, despite being gifted one, and despite the fact that they only have 5 or 6 good forwards.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Because Puljujarvi is still very much a work in progress, and obviously Spector doesn't think he is the $4-5M player that you do.

Puljujarvi has not been able to solidify a spot anywhere on their roster, despite his tool set, despite being gifted one, and despite the fact that they only have 5 or 6 good forwards.

Even if you ignore Puljujarvi’s solid defensive metrics he’s a fan favorite 24 year old 0.55 PPG forward.

Virtanen is 26 year old fresh off a 0.44 PPG season in the KHL and a sexual assault charge.

Calling them both “projects” in the same breath is laughable. Suggesting the Oilers don’t need Virtanen because they have their hands full with Puljujarvi is a bizarre take.

Edmonton media running that kid out of town.

[Bingo]

Yeah Scorp is on to something with this one.

Something is up in Edmonton with JP. Way too much tossing the kid under the bus as a collective media voice when it's unnecessary.

You don't have to think he's destined for stardom (I'm exaggerating) like some Edmonton fans do, but project? No off ice issues, has good underlying numbers and puts up 40 points a year.

That's not a project. That's a middle six hockey player.

[Enoch Root]

we'll see how middle 6 he is when he isn't playing with McDrai

[Toonage]

They've botched his development horribly. When he first arrived they gave him too much too soon (the Oiler way) and then when it didn't click immediately they threw him to the minors where I recall reading how he didn't speak English and they didn't provide anyone to assist him. I believe that was partly why he left when he did. Unsure what they promised him to get him back, but I suspect his returning gave them all some weird sense of entitlement.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Yeah Scorp is on to something with this one.

Something is up in Edmonton with JP. Way too much tossing the kid under the bus as a collective media voice when it's unnecessary.

You don't have to think he's destined for stardom (I'm exaggerating) like some Edmonton fans do, but project? No off ice issues, has good underlying numbers and puts up 40 points a year.

That's not a project. That's a middle six hockey player.

Maybe but the guy has been available for a few years going back to before he went to Europe and they haven't been able to get a deal done with any team. Reports that teams weren't offering up much for him. As a comparison it really didn't take the Flames long to move Bennett. It does seem like a lot of GM's don't have a high opinion of him. He seems like a harmless guy so I don't think there's a risk of him upsetting a locker room but as has been mentioned in this thread many of times I just don't know if he has the hockey smarts. There's more to a good hockey player than good underlying numbers.

[Enoch Root]

The term 'controller disconnect' applies more to him than I think any other player I have ever seen.

He has some tremendous tools, there is no question about that, and there is a reason he was drafted 4OA. And he shows flashes of those tools, with some very good plays.

But much of the time, he is simply moving around the ice, unsure where to be or what to do. And I believe this is what coaches want no part of.

And weren't there implications that McDavid had asked to have him removed from his line?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

we'll see how middle 6 he is when he isn't playing with McDrai

We don't have to wonder. Last season he was fairly useless with pretty much anyone else in the lineup. And I also get the sense that McHobo really does not like playing with him. I feel bad for the kid in that situation where the team and his teammates seem barely able to tolerate him.

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

we'll see how middle 6 he is when he isn't playing with McDrai

Glad this isn't the no good topic or I'd be getting flagged.

Honestly not suggesting he's the second coming, middle six forward is hardly a huge admiration tag for a hockey player.

But he's just not the guy they should be picking on. Has never made sense for me.

It would be like the Calgary media deciding to run Dillon Dube out of town.

Had a look though ... with McDavid last year he 1.59 points/60, without 1.62 points/60.

With how much Edmonton plays their two guns it's hard to evaluate anyone away from them!

[Vinny01]

I was in Edmonton the past couple of days for work and when the FAN was too scrambled I tuned into 1260. Gregor was setting the table for either a late 2nd as the return for Puljujarvi stating the Ducks are the team to watch. They have their 2nd, the Bruins 2nd and the Avs 2nd next draft so he suspects it will be the Avs 2nd that might get the deal done. He compared that to the Ducks 3rd which should be within 10-15 picks of that Avs 2nd.

He said he heard there was an offer of a 3rd round pick on the table but the Oilers don’t want to do it.

[Bonded]

I'd give up a second for Frankenberry

[activeStick]

My guess is that the Oilers have been trying to move Puljujarvi out ever since McDavid indicated he wasn't a fan, but the Oilers want to come out very clearly on top in any trade given his draft pedigree but obviously don't have any takers on that sort of ask. They would like to play him with Mcdavid ideally to prop his value up but also were probably directed by Mcdavid that he isn't going to play with the guy, leaving the Oilers out of options.

[topfiverecords]

They should really just keep him at this point. He’s more of a lottery ticket than a 2nd or 3rd round pick selected by Edmonton scouts. Don’t they know of the long historical list of Oilers that weren’t meeting their potential only to find it soon after on other teams? He’s next in line to set them up for massive egg on their face if he gets traded.

Plus, if you’re gonna be No Good, Edmonton is the place to be that.

[Toonage]

Since when has Edmonton cared about coming out on top of a trade?

[Iggy_12]

According to Spector, Oilers offered a PTO but belief is he will go elsewhere.

[CaptainCrunch]

So to preface, I don't know advanced stats very well. But I've said with JP that he doesn't see the ice very well and doesn't get to open spaces very well at all. I think he's got low end hockey IQ because of it.

I'm wondering if and you can all tell me I'm wrong, it something that could be proven through something like high danger chances, which would show clear shots from the good areas of the ice and how it compares to players in a similar bottom 6 potential.