It's a slow development for youngster Jake Virtanen. The 6"1, 210 pounds frame out of New Westminster, BC was expected to be THE best power-forward of the 2014 draft when he was selected 6th overall. Vancouver drafted Virtanen over players like; William Nylander, Nikolaj Ehlers, Dylan Larkin and David Pastrnak. All of these players are playing a key role within their respective teams while Jake is... somewhere else.
Was there too much pressure on the Canucks to draft the hometown boy? Probably. Was he a good pick regarless? Probably. Did he just scored his first goal in 9 games with the Utica Comets? You bet!
After being scoreless in 10 games with the 'Nucks, Virtanen finally scored his first of the season in his 19th game of professionnal hockey. He's got 2 assists in the AHL and 1 in the NHL to pad his stats.
Here's the long-awaited goal:
