I do see the point New Era is trying to make. I don't quite agree with everything he stated, but Baertschi to me has NOT looked like an NHL caliber player CONSISTENTLY.
He has had a few solid games, DEFINITELY.
He is improving - both with and without the puck. Not where he should be though.
He does get lost in the defensive zone at times, and other times he makes a good play.
He is really just a great example of a kid with a high ceiling, but who just needs more time to develop. He isn't nearing bust status. He isn't 'terrible'. He is just not a consistent NHL player, and looks physically dominated out there, and hasn't found a way to make up for it.
People are freaking out that he is being sent to the AHL as some kind of terrible demotion, and that this is going to be terrible for his development. I completely disagree. The AHL is a professional league, and arguably the world's 2nd best league. It is also a wonderful development league. Let him go down there and develop.
You have to have blinders on to say he is terrible in all three zones all the time, but you also have to have blinders on to say he is good in all 3 zones and a capable NHL player.
Every player makes mistakes in the NHL. Rookies make more of them, and we can't expect a rookie to come in and be error-free. Baertschi just seems to me as more inconsistent than he should be. There is nothing wrong with not being NHL ready yet. There is no shame in being sent back to the AHL. It is not going to screw him up mentally or physically, or impair his development. Some prospects just need more time to develop, and he is going to a team that really has everything going for it, and he gets to be a big part of that. I think it is not just the right decision, but a wonderful opportunity for Baertschi to get proper time to develop.
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