Oilers release forward Jake Virtanen

This just in, the Edmonton Oilers have released former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen from his professional tryout (PTO) contract.

Earlier this week Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft issued a bit of a challenge for Virtanen, stating that “It’s incumbent that he has a good game,” if Virtanen wants to earn himself a regular roster spot with the team.

That game came and went with hardly a whisper from Virtanen. As has been the case for most of his NHL career.

The fact of the matter is that Virtanen has had opportunities handed to him since the day he was drafted into the NHL, but he has failed to capitalize on any of his chances. He put up just five points in 38 games with the Canucks during his last NHL season and wasn't even in the top 100 of KHL scorers this past season. His career high is 18 goals and 36 points in 69 games and that came in a campaign where his point totals looked to be juiced a bit in order to prep him for a trade. In the end, Virtanen earned himself another contract which the Canucks quickly bought out.

Now, on his second go around in the NHL he has once again failed to seize an opportunity. Some things never change...