QOTD: The Baertschi Bounce

[Bingo]

11 points in 12 games, and hugely positive comments from the coaching staff in Adirondack.

Additionally playing on a line with Poirier and Arnold, which would be the type of line you'd want Baertschi working with if he gets promoted again ... a top six role with a top prospect.

What does this mean?

[foshizzle11]

don't we have enough Sven threads?

[codynw]

Somewhere between "good start" and "turning the corner" for me. Hope he can keep it up.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

don't we have enough Sven threads?

One other one?

Gawd this kind of post is annoying.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

don't we have enough Sven threads?

Can we stop bitching when people make new threads? I for one don't want to wade through a 100+ page megathread for updates on Baertschi when half of it is people arguing about whether he's still a prospect. This thread gives an update on his recent production in the AHL, certainly something worth discussing.
Also, I'm pretty sure Bingo can make whatever threads he wants on his own site.

As for the post - it's a good start. He obviously has to keep it up but it's encouraging to see him starting to put it together. Maybe his call up and time with the NHL regulars has helped.

[Calgary4LIfe]

He has been great lately. I am of the "He is still a legitimate high-end prospect for the Flames" camp, but this is really nothing new in a number of ways. Baertschi has always shined really well in short sample sizes - which makes everyone insistent that the Flames are treating him unfairly somehow - but he has been unable to string together a good half season to full season at the pro level.

He just needs to keep doing what he is doing and eventually things will just work out for him. He has been disappointing in a number of ways as a professional, but he for sure can be a huge part of the Calgary Flames in the future if things continue to work out as they have in the last few weeks.

[polak]

Wouldn't mind if they kept him down until they can call him AND Porier up.

Trade Deadline maybe?

[troutman]

If he can't be top 6 here, let him continue to develop and get ice time in Addy.

[FlamesAddiction]

12 games = too small of a sample size, but it is a good start.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

don't we have enough Sven threads?

If you ask me, the anxiety surrounding Sven (and this also goes for the much-maligned Jankowski) goes beyond just Sven. His struggles are symptomatic of 30 years of 1st round picks that have either failed to live up to their potential or busted outright. Dion is the only 1st rounder going back to 1984 (Gary Roberts) that has actually gone on to have a lucrative career, and the Flames gave him away for nothing.

It's frustrating as a fan to see it happening again to a player many thought was a sure thing after ripping up the WHL and scoring 3 in 5 during the emergency callup.

So yes, it's something that should, and is, receiving a fair bit of attention. Those picks need to count because a franchise that continually mishandles and blows their most important picks is not going to find success, even if the late-round drafting yields the odd gem.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

don't we have enough Sven threads?

First off I've had a lot of good feedback about putting QOTD topics on my site, so I'll continue.

When I do one its because its a topical issue of the day and almost always results in a duplicate discussion but one pointed to a poll that captures the issue that is on the surface at the time.

Right now that's Sven's resurgence.

Beyond that I've never understood the fear of multi topics, and I'd rather have a topic that covers individual issues for each player or broader topic, and not one 100 page Baertschi topic that covers everything from the day he was born until the day he dies. My site has a feature where old topics go to the second page when they're not responded to, tends to sort this issue out.

[Rick M.]

People have been saying on CP that Sven should go down to Addy and prove that the flashes he showed in his call up were for real; he should go down to Addy and show that he really wants it. That's exactly what he's doing and I'm delighted. I think some are hoping that he fails and is traded, however.

[Street Pharmacist]

The interesting part for me is that it's much different than when he got his few goals during that cup of coffee or a couple of hot steaks last year. He's driving] the offense now, not cashing in on random chances. He's speeding onto the zone confidently with the puck, and finding open spaces. A lot of this is likely due to his confidence in playing with Arnold and Poirier I think. I don't see him being able to drive much play if he's playing with Stajan and Bollig, so unless there's room in the top 6 it is a waste to see him up

[Bandwagon In Flames]

It's nice to see Baertchi picking up the pace, he's most definitely a confidence driven player. Lets see what happens next though.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

People have been saying on CP that Sven should go down to Addy and prove that the flashes he showed in his call up were for real; he should go down to Addy and show that he really wants it. That's exactly what he's doing and I'm delighted. I think some are hoping that he fails and is traded, however.

These are not mutually inclusive.

I voted two. I think he is becoming and will be an NHL player. I don't necessarily hope that Sven is traded, but I think he will be.

I also think he'll still be an NHL player, there's just people passing him in the Flames system and I feel like he will be packaged in a trade.

It's not necessarily a slight to the guy to think he will be traded. I like Sven, and was a big supporter of his when he was first drafted. He seems to have either regressed, or a lot of others have blown past him. I can't tell which it is, but he has to catch up or he'll be left behind.

[GioforPM]

I love a nice cup of coffee and hot steak.

[bubbsy]

surprised no one has picked the last option yet. I was about to, but leaned to the "turning a corner" option myself...

i think he's been a prospect who has skill but isn't the biggest or fastest of players, and as such there is a definitely learning curve with regards to succeeding at the NHL (and ahl to some extent) level.

Then there's some mishandling of the prospect (bringing him up during his rookie season, sending him down last season) that has resulted, in my opinion, in the biggest impact issue, which is the kid's confidence.

Now, he's shown some issues in his resilience, where if things aren't going his way, he doesn't seem to push thru it as other good players have shown the ability to do. This, in conjunction with the above mis-handling of Sven i think have really hindered his development and having him overcome the issue indicated at the start my post started (learning how to play in the nhl being a smaller, avg skating forward).

if he can get his confidence back, which i believe this recent resurgence would indicate, i think it's a great sign. it indicates he's figuring things out, and trusting his abilities more and more. If there's ever to be a callup for sven, i definitely hope it's when he's on a roll. I think feeling good about his game, his confidence/swagger, is critical for him to produce on the ice, perhaps more so than others.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by polak

Wouldn't mind if they kept him down until they can call him AND Porier up.

Trade Deadline maybe?

Flames will not recall Poirier this year. Currenly, his ELC is sliding, but it will kick-in as soon as he gets called up to the NHL. Baertschi I think will get called up post-deadline, though it may all be dependent on how he is performing relative to the other prospects, as well as to what kind of a situation the Flames find themselves in (playoff contention, moves made around the deadline, etc).

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Bingo

First off I've had a lot of good feedback about putting QOTD topics on my site, so I'll continue.

When I do one its because its a topical issue of the day and almost always results in a duplicate discussion but one pointed to a poll that captures the issue that is on the surface at the time.

Right now that's Sven's resurgence.

Beyond that I've never understood the fear of multi topics, and I'd rather have a topic that covers individual issues for each player or broader topic, and not one 100 page Baertschi topic that covers everything from the day he was born until the day he dies. My site has a feature where old topics go to the second page when they're not responded to, tends to sort this issue out.

Questions of the Day threads could also be closed after that day to make them truely a QOTD and not another long-drawn out thread. That would would make more QOTDs novel and worthwhile to have one every day.

Sven needs to be playing with skilled linemates to be effective. His 5-7 minutes of ice time on the 3rd/4th lines in Calgary during his last call-up weren't really helpful to him. He should be given a chance to play with the likes of Monahan, etc. again for a few games if he ever does return.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Sven needs to be playing with skilled linemates to be effective. His 5-7 minutes of ice time on the 3rd/4th lines in Calgary during his last call-up weren't really helpful to him.

I don't agree.

I don't think he is coincidence that he has looked much more effective since day 1 of his demotion.

He has learned how to play a different role, and still be effective while on a lower line. By the end of his call up he may not have been producing every shift but he was effective in keeping possession and was stronger defensively.

That improved overall play has translated to more confidence and has kickstarted his offensive game in the AHL.

The next step for him next call up will be to produce while playing on the third line with guys that can produce but maybe aren't top 6ers.