Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
I don't think expecting some consistency is being harsh. He really did have an up and down game, and for a player hoping to crack the lineup he can't afford to be wildly inconsistent in three periods. You want to see guys that are ready, look at Granlund and Reinhart. Extremely consistent, giving the coach a performance he can count on, as that what a coach is looking for; a performance that is going to be there almost every time the coach calls the name. Baertschi has improved in certain aspects of his game, but he does not yet appear to have that level of consistency in his performance that can be counted on to the same level of some of the other prospects.
|
It all depends on what you mean by "consistency," but it also applies to what type of player you wish to critique. I think we tend to forget that Baertschi was not a top-ten pick in his draft year. He has all world skill, and were he able to translate that skill level to a Granlund or Reinhart range of consistency, then he would have been a lottery pick, and likely already playing in the NHL.
It may be that in the end, Baertschi is a player similar in this respect to Glencross—an effective top six player who can and will be productive, but one that will frequently appear "disinterested," "inconsistent," or "lazy." I think you greatly exaggerate how much of a problem this is for his development (he is certainly not "wildly inconsistent"). For me, I am very pleased to see that he looks much stronger, more confident, and seems to be making smarter plays so far this preseason. This is all very good news.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
What game were you watching? I saw a guy show up for overtime after floating his way through 3 periods.
|
Speaking of Glencross, I am also a little bewildered by one or two comments about how much frustration his own level of "disinterest" seems to have caused. Seriously? It's the preseason and Glencross has nothing to prove. I'm not sure why people would expect something different, or why they would have a problem with him easing his way toward mid-season form ... There is a reason why it is called "mid season form."