Canucks GM destroys forward Jake Virtanen with one quote

Jake Virtanen has never really panned out in Vancouver and it's not even his fault. The expectations mounted on Virtanen's shoulders, after he was a 1st-round-pick in 2014, were too much to live up to and regardless of how Virtanen played, it wasn't ever enough. 

It also doesn't help when the off-ice distractions mount up, from going live on Instagram while driving to practice, to partying in the club during a pandemic, Virtanen hasn't done himself any favors.

Now it's his GM who isn't doing Virtanen any favors, with this quote that all but spells the end of Virtanen's tenure in Vancouver:

I thought he worked and competed hard in the playoffs. He scored that big goal for us in Game 6. To be perfectly honest with you, though, I was expecting more from Jake in the playoffs,” Benning said on Sportsnet 650 on Tuesday afternoon. “He can skate, he’s strong. He can get to the net. He’s a guy we’re going to have to talk about here going forward. We’ve been patient with him in his development, but he’s a guy I was expecting to produce more for us.

Ouch, never feels good to be thrown under the bus after your team is eliminated in the playoffs. 

Photo credit:  Bob Frid/Icon Sportswire