[bubbsy]

i also feel bad it didn't work out. My view, however, is that he lacks size, and his speed, puck skills, vision, aren't of high enough caliber to allow him to easily translate results in development/minor leagues to the NHL.

I think it is unfair to call out his attitude, work ethic, etc. I also think it is unfair to lay the blame on the flames coaching/management.

He doesn't have the size or tenacity to come in on an NHL 3rd/4th line and be effective. He doesn't have elite level speed/skill allowing him to step right in and play on a team's scoring lines. i think getting traded to a bottom feeder would have been the best thing for baertchi. A team with no expectations, that can give him time with skill players and top 6 minutes, to figure out how to be effective in the NHL, where immediate results aren't going to be expected would have been ideal. Unless vancouver considers next year a rebuilding year, which they don't, i have a hard time believing he'll get this opportunity to learn at the NHL level.