I actually really like this post, but cannot agree with this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
...
- Baertschi is an everyday NHLer now. Look where he is now compared to three years ago, he's a much better player. He was never going to win a selke but he definitely developed. Hartley just had it in for him.
|
No. Baertschi plays an entirely different kind of game today than he did last year with the Flames. Hell, his game is different from how he played in his first month or two of the season.
The reason Baertschi struggled in Calgary, the reason why Hartley only gave him limited minutes, the reason Desjardins would only play he sporadically to start the season is because he was a perimeter player who did nothing exceptionally well. For whatever reason, Baertschi has changed his game. He is MUCH more confident skating down the wing than he ever was in his time with the Flames, and he has now started to go to the net, and to fight his way into the slot for scoring chances—also something that he didn't do in Calgary.
I believe the reason why he struggled with the Flames was mostly due to injuries he suffered in his second and third year, which really looked to sap his confidence. He has gotten over it with time, and now slightly resembles the player that scored in three of his first four NHL games.