I may not care if Baertschi gets passed on the depth chart, or I may be disappointed, but that all depends on Baertschi.
If Baertschi comes out like he did last year where he is just not doing what he needs to do, I will be disappointed. He will continue to get passed in the organization.
If Baertschi comes out hard and does very well, but others in the organization still pass him, I won't care so much. In fact, I will be happy. This just means that the prospect base is even better.
There is no one mishandling Baertschi (any longer since Feaster left - anointing him as the next one and forcing Hartley to have him in the lineup was mishandling him). Hartley doesn't 'hate' Baertschi. Heck, we all know Hartley and Blair Jones had a huge argument on the ice about Blair not doing the things that Hartley wants, but the very next season Blair gets bumped up and plays the PP.
If Baertschi feels he is an NHL player, he will simply play like an NHL player. If he is not ready, he will continue to be in the AHL until he gets ready. If he gets passed by other prospects, then that is the way it goes.
I just really hope that if he does continue to get passed this season, that it is because his competition is so good, not because Baertschi is playing mediocre again.
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