[ricardodw]

Let's see... Granlund played 2 years in the WJC .... the 2nd year at the same age as RNH he had 5 goals an 7 assists in 6 games .... RNH coming off of solid NHL: rookie year had 15 pts in 6 games in that tourney.

Granlund was able to play 2 years after he was drafted because he is 7 months younger than Baertschi

So after that he comes over to the AHL and playing in a smaller ice surface totally without compliant or problem adapts and 46 pts in 52 games.

The older Baertschi, after 2 years in the CHL was only able to put up 26 pts in 32 games in his equivalents season.

The brief NHL success of Baertschi gave him such a big head that he felt slighted to play in the young guns tourney and did not take the opportunity to show case his dominance of the young players.

The biggest highlight from Baertschi last year was him providing advice to Monahan on how to handle the fame and high expectations.


Meanwhile Granlund just was doing what he needed to be prepared for the NHL.


If the Flames are going to go with 3 small forwards: Hudler , Gaudreau and either Granlund or Baertschi I would want the mentally tougher Granlund given the first chance. He has progressed while Baertschi seems to have fallen back .... possibly due to the high expectations.


Marcus has really been keeping up with his more famous (higher drafted) older brother..Mikael.

2 years ago Mikael had 30 pts in 34 games in his first look at the smaller AHL ice surface.... eerily similar to Markus's 51 pts in 56 games... (including playoffs in both)

Last year Mikael had 41 pts in 63 NHL games.