What Does Baertschi Have To Do...?

[Fire It Up]

I was wondering after tonights game (and many others) what Sven has to do to get up and off the 4th line?

He has been used in a capacity I hazard to guess he has never been used to his entire life. With approximately 9 minutes of ice a night, wouldn't he be better served playing top line minutes in the AHL? Wondering everyone's thoughts on what the plan is for this guy going forward. I don't know if a message is being sent or what, but they are using the guy in a highly ineffective manner. How is he supposed to earn anything with the role and ice time he has been given?

[mikephoen]

How about score a frickin' goal?

[Buff]

He has been good, but he needs to be better than other players.

Who has he been better than to earn more ice time?

[Cole436]

He hasn't been better than the players ahead of him. That's all.

When he starts playing to the level that a top 9 forward plays at, he'll be put in those spots.

[Bezer]

The problem is, who is he going to displace at the moment? If Sven keeps playing as we as he has lately, it will come.

Also keep him up and let him build some confidence with the big club.

Patience, I am sure it will sort it self out.

[Fire It Up]

Originally Posted by Buff

He has been good, but he needs to be better than other players.

Who has he been better than to earn more ice time?

That's just it, it's almost like the chicken and egg problem. How is he supposed to score or get better playing Bollig and Bouma and getting the ice he does.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Fire It Up

That's just it, it's almost like the chicken and egg problem. How is he supposed to score or get better playing Bollig and Bouma and getting the ice he does.

Jooris did it.

[ramizle]

He's been playing great lately no doubt. Everyone moved up the ranks in time. Gaudreau, Monahan, Jooris, Granlund, all these guys started on the 3rd/4th line and moved up as their games progressed. Baertschi is progressing and it will come in time. I'd say he's right on schedule.

[1stLand]

You have to produce.
He is not a bad player.
He just isn't good enough for this team.

Which is a good problem to have. This team is awesome.

He is getting sent down when the other players come back

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Fire It Up

That's just it, it's almost like the chicken and egg problem. How is he supposed to score or get better playing Bollig and Bouma and getting the ice he does.

He didn't take advantage of his time playing with others who aren't Bollig and Bouma, whereas everyone else did. Baertschi hasn't been terrible, but he's certainly been passed on the depth chart by quite a few players.

[Hemi-Cuda]

If this was even just last year, Baertschi would have no problem claiming a permanent roster spot with his play so far. He's been good, there's no questioning that. The problem is so many others have played great, good just isn't good enough anymore

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Any time you're asking "why isn't this young player getting more minutes, he clearly deserves the ice time", well then things are probably ok.

So I don't see a problem. Sven is playing well in his limited role. You may want to focus on the "limited role" part, but I'm focusing on the "playing well" part, and I know which one I'd choose if I had to pick.

We know Sven can produce at a 40 point pace (his production to date in the NHL). But he has the talent to be an 80+ point player, while playing a physical two-way game. He is being held to a higher standard, but thats because he has more to give.

He'll get there.

[Henry Fool]

Keep doing whatever he can and eventually the opportunites come. The big mistake is to expect things to happen tomorrow and start freaking out when they don't.

There really is nothing to worry about yet. Just keep playing.

[dino7c]

he is doing fine on the 4th line...he needs to keep going

who do you suggest he replaces? thing is the team has a ton of good young players

[mile]

I think the positive with Sven is that he is definitely learning the game and becoming an NHL player. If you look at his last few games compared to his first few he looks much more responsible - making the right plays, getting his sticks in between passes, etc.

Problem is even with the improvement, he's only just caught up to the play of the top 9 ahead of him and hasn't surpassed any of them (although this might be an unpopular opinion, I think he and Ferland have been equally solid. I don't think one has been really better than the other) .

He now has to use the strengths he does have over other forwards (stick handling, passing, his offensive talents - and use them consistently) and combine them with the aspects of the game he has improved in, ultimately becoming not only a skilled scoring player, but a reliable one as well. And I think you're slowly but surely starting to see that - he's had more time with the puck, he is starting to stick handle a little more, and he has hit the post a couple times. What is frustrating is that he just doesn't seem to have the luck others have had when it comes to scoring and have that killer instinct - it's always close or improving, but never yet there for Sven.

I expect him to get sent to the AHL once there are healthy bodies, but IMO staying in the NHL wouldn't be a bad idea either. I think he is on the right path right now, and I don't know if reassignment will disrupt that progress. That is the question. If he truly is a pro, he won't let reassignment affect the improvements in his game he has picked up on.

[C-ero]

Playing good isn't enough. He has to play BETTER than the person who will be demoted for him.

[fatso]

I'm wondering if anyone thinks the answer to the OP's question is that Baertschi needs to be better than or outplay those ahead of him on the depth chart?

[Savvy27]

I think his time with the Calgary Flames is just about up, so he'll need to go back down to the AHL and prove himself to be a reliable scorer. Keep up the improved defensive work ethic and habits and use the weaker competition and increased ice time to make some noise with his offense.

[Calgary4LIfe]

People may argue that Sven doesn't have the line mates to start producing and get off that 4th line (which is in my opinion not the greatest of arguments, but it has some merit). However, didn't he have lots of looks on higher lines this call-up? He got displaced while he was playing on the 3rd line I believe. Hartley has thrown him up on the third line when his play warrants it, and Hartley does give him better line mates, but they have all since passed him and pushed him down.

Baertschi just hasn't found consistency in his game. He does look good - even great- at times, and at other times I find he is just lacking. He is just a developing prospect that should probably be sent down and get a lot more minutes in the AHL to find his game. I do like what I have seen from Baertschi more in this call-up though, but he does need to start taking steps forward.

Hartley has already put Baertschi ahead of Knight and Setoguchi. That's something positive. If he wants more than that, he will have to earn it.

[Phanuthier]

I think he's great, but as it was pointed out during the broadcast, these days in the NHL, you need 16-18 forwards because there are so many injuries. Sven will probably go to the AHL when some injured players are back, but it won't be long before there are more injuries and he'll be back.... then who knows what role he will play. He just has to keep improving... with injuries come opportunities for young players, and Sven is definitely in the mix.