Oilers’ decision to sign Jake Virtanen to PTO deserves criticism it’s getting

No contract has been signed between the Oilers and Jake Virtanen, and GM Ken Holland insists there isn’t one prepared in a drawer somewhere. Any NHL deal for the right winger must be earned on the ice.

But even by inviting Virtanen to training camp on a tryout offer, Holland looks insensitive — to put it mildly. He’s needlessly sticking his neck out for a person who was just the defendant on a sexual assault charge and a player who’s shown little upside.

It’s important to note that Virtanen was found not guilty in a British Columbia Supreme Court in July. However, a pending West Kelowna civil suit means this matter isn’t fully resolved.

That latter aspect will be a consideration for Holland as he evaluates Virtanen in practices and exhibition games.

“I have to sort out the moral issue in my own mind over the next two weeks,” he said.

That’s something that should have been sorted out by now. In a way, it already has.

After all, Holland is giving Virtanen a chance — citing the verdict as just cause.

“He went through the court system for something for the courts and jury to decide on,” Holland said. “The jury decided he was not guilty.”

Holland said he met with Virtanen twice over the summer. He spends his downtime in Vernon, B.C., whereas Virtanen lived in nearby Kelowna this offseason. Many questions were asked, and the responses were at least appeasing.

“That was one side of the story,” Holland said. “The people that got both sides were the jury.

“We’re in trouble if the legal system’s bad. We have to have confidence in the legal system.”

Holland is known for giving people second chances. That was part of his reasoning for signing Evander Kane in January — though that was a charitable way to look at Kane’s number of opportunities.

That’s noble of the Hall of Fame manager. In this instance, though, it appears misguided on many fronts.

First and foremost, Virtanen’s civil case hasn’t been resolved. And that’s under the spotlight of Hockey Canada’s sexual assault allegations dominating the news cycle for weeks.

It was unsettling to some (this writer included) to bring in Kane, a player with a list of indiscretions, court appearances and suspensions — the last of which was for producing a fake vaccine card amid a pandemic.

But at least that move was for a bona fide player who offered the chance of Holland hitting the jackpot, which came to be when Kane scored at will and helped revitalize the Oilers’ season.

Evander Kane, Jake Virtanen is not. Virtanen, drafted sixth in 2014, had 55 goals and 100 points in 317 NHL games before spending last season in the KHL. There is little chance he’ll have even a fraction of that impact in Edmonton or elsewhere.

At this point, giving Virtanen a chance to make an NHL roster — especially that of one that considers itself a Stanley Cup contender — makes no sense in any way, shape or form.

Sure, the Oilers are thin at right wing. Zach Hyman will almost certainly be moved over from the left side, where he played most of last season. Hyman projects to slot in with Kailer Yamamoto, Jesse Puljujarvi and Derek Ryan. And that’s with Puljujarvi’s name circling the rumour mill as a trade candidate on and off for years. Virtanen could fill a void there.

The thing is his Vancouver track record indicates there’s little hope for any sustained success as a top-six winger. He’s not regarded as much of a checker either and doesn’t kill penalties.

So, where does he fit into this lineup?

“I don’t know,” Holland said. “There was a time in his life when he had a lot of potential. He’s 26. He’s been through a lot of adversity.”

Players don’t often reinvent themselves at 26. Holland referenced Dan Cleary, a high draft pick like Virtanen who was that age when Holland signed him to a contract in Detroit after years of limited success. Cleary became a checker for the Red Wings and spent the last 10 seasons of his career with them.

Maybe that’s what Virtanen can become. The odds seem small of that happening.

Even still, offering an invitation to camp to someone more proven in that role would have made more sense. (As reported, the Oilers were discussing the possibility of bringing Brett Ritchie to camp. However, Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reported Monday that Ritchie is closing in on a one-year deal with the Flames.)

“There’s nothing to lose on a PTO,” Holland said. “He has to earn a contract.”

If that happens, there’s the possibility that Puljujarvi is dealt and Virtanen winds up taking the Finnish winger’s spot on the team in a move to clear cap space.

Holland waffled when asked about this. He said his objective is to maximize a group led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for this season.

“I’m trying to put the best team on the ice,” he said. “I’m hoping we have really difficult decisions when we put our roster in.”

Unless Virtanen suddenly and unexpectedly becomes the power forward people envisioned during his draft year — which was eight years ago — considering him as part of the mix in any way is fraught with pitfalls and bad taste.

Virtanen spoke Monday after an informal skate with the Oilers. He said he’s happy he went through the legal process but added it was stressful for him and his family.

Virtanen said he put a lot of time reflecting and analyzing his self-worth but offered little when asked what he learned.

He knows he’d have to start in the bottom six and work to prove himself after a season in Russia, something he said he’s willing to do. He said he’s put a larger emphasis on off-ice conditioning, which has been an issue in the past.

He’s focused on turning the page.

“My court case is done. I wanted to come back. I loved playing in the NHL. I just wanted to make that happen again,” Virtanen said. “I have that opportunity right now.”

That’s hard to fathom how Virtanen is getting that opportunity considering everything going on in hockey right now.

Virtanen has a long way to go before he puts on an Oilers sweater in a regular season game. He could flame out in a week and be released. This PTO could be but a mere footnote on the season.

But even being given a tryout is at best an inconsiderate choice and at worst repugnant one by Holland. And all for someone who so rarely has moved the needle even slightly.

(Photo: Bob Frid / USA Today)