Virtanen signs two-year, $5.1 million contract with Canucks - NHL.com

Jake Virtanen signed a two-year, $5.1 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $2.55 million.

The 24-year old forward was a restricted free agent and avoided a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Oct. 28. He scored 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 69 games with the Canucks last season and three points (two goals, one assist) in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"Obviously there's a bright future with the Canucks organization, so many young, talented players coming in and the moves that we've made, I think it's going to be just a brighter future for our team moving forward," Virtanen said. "I'm excited to see how it all pans out and how our team's going to do and super excited to get things going.

"[Contract negotiations] felt like a long time but obviously super excited to get this done and be back with the Canucks for two more years. Just happy to get it done and get it over with and just focus on training and skating and the whole thing, being ready to go."

With forward Tyler Toffoli signing a four-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 12, it opened up a spot on one of the top two lines, and Virtanen is hoping he'll get a chance to play there.

"Obviously I'd love to play top six and have a bigger opportunity, more responsibilities," Virtanen said. "That's what I really hope I get. I want to be able to prove that to the team and my teammates that I can play up there and be consistent every night, making sure that I can play night in and night out. It's an opening for me to try to jump up there. I've got to make sure I'm coming to camp ready to go."

Selected by Vancouver in the first round (No. 6) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Virtanen has scored 95 points (50 goals, 45 assists) in 279 regular-season games and three points in 16 playoff games.

"Jake has continued to make progress on his two-way game and remains a contributor offensively, using his speed and size to generate chances," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. "We look forward to him taking additional steps in his growth this year to help our team be successful."

NHL.com staff writer Tim Campbell contributed to this report

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiTWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm5obC5jb20vbmV3cy9qYWtlLXZpcnRhbmVuLXNpZ25pbmctdXBkYXRlLW5ld3Mtc3RhdHVzL2MtMzE5Mjk0NzE20gEA?oc=5

2020-10-22 17:47:53Z
CBMiTWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm5obC5jb20vbmV3cy9qYWtlLXZpcnRhbmVuLXNpZ25pbmctdXBkYXRlLW5ld3Mtc3RhdHVzL2MtMzE5Mjk0NzE20gEA