Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Johnny this season started out a lot like Sven had been playing for the Flames the season before and when he got benched. He looked out of place, not very good, and it appeared maybe he wasn't ready but after that benching he came back played great and forced management's hand to keep him full time in the lineup. Sven never did that. When he got benched he kind of pouted and when he got back into the lineup he made it easy for Hartley to bench him again. You could just see that this wasn't a marriage that was going to end happily ever after as long as Hartley is the head coach and if the choice is Baertschi or Hartley I'm going with the coach. I wish things could have worked out better but it didn't and the bright side is that he's going to get another opportunity.
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I wonder how much their own personalities affects each player's respective ability to cope with new challenges? It was impressive to see how Gaudreau responded, but maybe it was already easier for him because of effectively he avoids internalising difficulties.
Gaudreau just goes and quietly does his thing. When he is wildly successful, well, he just goes and does his thing.
I was a little concerned about how personally affected Baertschi occasionally presented himself in the media following situations in which he was challenged. Perhaps the lesson learned here is that if one is going to wear his heart on his sleeve like Sven does, he can't ever let it consume him. Perhaps Baertschi's self-induced urgency to be better actually interfered with his ability to do so. It certainly looked like this from time to time on the ice when he played.