The Vancouver Canucks are turning heads early in the 2015-16 season.
Not only is the club leading the Pacific Division with 16 points in 12 games, but they are getting outstanding contributions from their young players.
Appearing on Brady & Walker on Tuesday afternoon, Willie Desjardins discussed the development of Bo Horvat, Jake Virtanen, and Jared McCann.
“Bo (Horvat) paved the way last year,” Desjardins said on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. “I wasn’t crazy on a 19-year-old playing. he did such a good job for us. That helped me believe a young guy could contribute.
“This year, I think both (Jared) McCann and (Jake) Virtanen have been good from the start. They have some inexperience that shows but they have so much potential to work with. I’m lucky that (Jim) Benning and those guys do such a good job scouting players.”
Virtanen, 19, is off to quite a start with the Canucks. The rookie forward scored his first goal Monday night, and also has two assists in nine games while the 19-year-old McCann has recorded five goals in his first 10 NHL games.
Desjardins had some fun with the two rookies earlier this week when the head coach showed McCann and Virtanen videos of multiple mistakes they have made this season before Horvat finally told the two that the entire thing was just a joke.
“It was a little bit my idea,” Desjardins said of the prank. “It was good. It was fun. We did it to Bo last year. It’s a video Bo will always have and we thought it would be nice for the two guys to have as well. It’s their welcoming into the NHL. We did it for them so they have something to remember the moment by.”
Entering Tuesday, the Canucks have a 6-2-4 record and boast the best goal differential in the Western Conference.