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Originally Posted by StrykerSteve
I agree with you 100% if not for one minor difference. In my opinion, he did earn it. His play was solid, despite getting bodied off the puck, still managing to constantly generate scoring opportunities.
He was demoted because he wasn't waiver eligible. Plain and simple. If he was, he absolutely played strong enough to remain in the lineup, while other, more veteran guys who Calgary isn't able to send down, seemed to coast through the opening portion of the season.
But I digress, he still remains one of the very best hockey players the Flames organization has and those calling to trade him are being silly.
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No, he was demoted because we was not ready for the NHL. Hartley did not have it in for Sven - why was Hartley so great with every other prospect? Name one single prospect Hartley didn't give a fair shake to? If he did have it 'in' for Sven, then there must be a reason, no?
Perhaps Sven was just not NHL ready yet. People keep pushing their view that Sven was mishandled and should not have been sent down, but he simply was not NHL ready. Not physically, not mentally.
If he was mishandled, it was by Feaster seemingly forcing Hartley to keeping him up. His tentativeness had much more to do with him avoiding contact. He lost puck battles routinely.
I understand people's notions to write their own narrative as to why their favorite prospect isn't in the NHL, but there is just no evidence of Hartley mishandling him at all. Not when every other prospect takes a step forward. Not when Baertschi goes to the AHL, and we see him being outplayed by other rookies. It wasn't like Baertschi came out and destroyed the AHL. In the playoffs, he was simply not effective either after seemingly turning it around.
I am still very high on Baertschi. I voted for him in the 3rd round this year. I just completely disagree with your narrative (and others') that Baertschi was mishandled by Hartley when it was Feaster that was mishandling him. I think being in the AHL until he is ready is the best way to handle his development. AHL is a legitimate league in itself, and considered a development league, no? Very best place to develop your talent. Whenever he is ready, he will earn for a roster spot. Simple as that. Flames have ZERO incentive to hold him back. Why would they? Why on Earth would they want to damage the development of one of their brightest prospects?
Whenever Sven develops and earns a spot, he will get it - just like Monahan, just like Wotherspoon, just like Gadreau, just like Granlund, just like Reinhart, just like Bennett, just like everyone. Writing a narrative that describes him being mishandled does not fit when you are looking at the whole picture organizationally.
I would agree with you if I saw an NHL-ready Sven competing out there, or even a dominating AHL Sven seemingly being ignored as other prospects were being called up. I didn't see either of those Svens. I saw a Sven who was not NHL ready, but who exudes skill and potential. He is where I think is best for him - the AHL. If he stays on the roster this season, it will be because he earned it. If not, then hopefully next season, or the season after. At some point, Sven will have to earn his spot, and there is NOBODY holding him back except himself and the competition.