Vancouver Canucks Lock Up RFA Forward

The Vancouver Canucks and Jake Virtanen have avoided arbitration and come to terms on a two-year contract extension that sees the restricted free-agent forward paid $2.55 million per season.

📝 DONE DEAL: Vancouver #Canucks re-sign RFA forward Jake Virtanen to two-year contract extension at a $2,550,000 AAV, avoid arbitration. pic.twitter.com/VyYT8E8n8C
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) October 22, 2020

Virtanen appeared in 69 games last season, recording 36 points and collected 3 points in 16 playoff games. The BC native is coming off a contract that saw him make $1.25 million, so easy math has him making more than double on this contract.

With all the adversity that has surrounded Virtanen in his career, this move is a touch of a surprise as the Canucks were not clear if they had interest bringing him back. This deal should put an end to those rumors and gives Virtanen and the Canucks a decent number to go up from on his next deal.

The former first-round pick has played in 279 career games for the Canucks, and for his sake, let's hope he can turn his back to the off-ice hoopla and continue to develop into a power forward in the league.