Quote:
Originally Posted by BowIsland
Sven's game didn't do much for me. Wasn't very noticeable. His ceiling certainly doesn't appear to be what I once thought. Hopefully he figures it out but I don't think it is going to be in Calgary.
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His game in Portland was a lot like that, you seemed to be that player that you hardly noticed but when you look at the score sheet after he had 2-3 points.
He never had outstanding physical gifts, but he was creative, great vision and his greatest strength was running the PP.
He isn't getting PP time and that is hurting his production, but I do think a year in the AHL and hopefully with Granlund staying up, he will be the guy and be on the 1st PP unit and given a chance to go out make mistakes, and learn from them rather then being benched for them.
When Backlund was benched last season he talked to I think it was his old coach/therapist and discovered that he was playing in a way that he was afraid to make mistakes, rather then to make plays. I think this is the way Baertschi is playing right now and it was something I was hoping he would be able to work on in the AHL rather then in the spotlight of the NHL.
I am still very confident that it will eventually just click with Sven, and he will contribute to this team. I don't think you will see a steady progression I think one day it is just going to click and he will be back, I just don't know when that will be.