Flames assign Sven Baertschi to the Heat

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Yes, yes -- well done Burke. Make your mind up about a player after a couple preseason games, blurt your hasty opinion to the media and pull that trigger the moment you got the chance.

Guess they can't all be Colbornes...

While you're at it, why not appoint yourself Flames GM for Life(tm).

Didn't King have an agreement with Burke that Burke is here to stay for a long time?

[getbak]

Burke has never been afraid to give young players time to grow in the AHL. Ryan and Kadri were both early first rounders that Burke gave time in the AHL and they both likely became better NHLers because of it.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Husky

11 points in 26 games playing limited PP time and little top 6 time consistently through the year....

Not sure how that is considered bad offense. Im tired of the "every player has to be a 2 way player". If a player is gifted offensively, give him PP time and let him run in the top 6.

I can't remember many of those points standing out as Sven driving the offense with his play.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Fan in Exile

I don't understand people saying Sven isn't ready, is not competitive, and is getting pushed around. He is good enough to be playing with the Flames as a rookie. Not sure what you expect in terms of offensive output for a (semi) rookie but a forty point pace is better than most of NHL players in their first and second years. He's a good player for his age and experience level. That doesn't mean he can't or won't get better and doesn't mean he NEEDS to go to the AHL. At the same time, I hope Sven takes it well and makes the most of it. As true as it is that many NHLers weren't as good as he is as a first/second year player, there have also been better players than him that paid more dues in the NHL.

Good enough for what? To take a regular shift? To be able to keep up with the play? Those elements are like the most basic requirements of an NHL regular. To be an effective part of a team, you have to excel at something, not just get by: goal scoring, penalty kill, playmaking, something. Sven deosn't excel at any of those things. He gets put out in the last minute and he makes mistakes that lose the team the game. He gets put with offensive players and nothing comes of it. And that is ok. But it is not good enough to continue to get the ice time he needs to get better. He is young. But he has not developed his game to the point where he can contribute in a meaningful way. That is what the AHL is for. The AHL is a quality, high level development league where players can learn, make mistakes, take on responsibility, all without the pressure or expectation of the highest level in the world. The NHL is not a development league. Yes, players can grow and learn and get better, but they have to already be effective players first. Sven isn't. This is the right move. And who knows, perhaps he just needs to go get his head on straight, get some confidence, and he will be back up soon. Maybe this is just a move to give him a break. But even if it isn't, and he is gone for the year, he can make use of this and come back with the tools to really contribute. This could be a great thing for Sven if he makes the most of it.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Players with size AND talent are very expensive to acquire. That is why you often see some exceptionally skilled prospects being available in the latter rounds who aren't very big (i.e. Gaudreau in the 4th, Petan in the early 2nd when he supposedly also had top 5 talent).

However, trading Sven now leaves a whole. While I personally don't think Sven is quite ready for the NHL full-time, I do think he is a blue-chip prospect that will do quite well in the NHL. A rebuilding team needs to keep adding blue-chippers first. If they have a few too many (or too many in one position), I think that is when organizationally you try and make those 'hockey deals' sending out a good player/prospect for a good player/prospect.

I do understand what you are saying, however. Just doesn't make sense to do so right now. Also, if you were the GM of another team, why would you trade away your big and skilled player for a player that was just skilled (even if the skill was a bit higher?). You are going to end up trading some skill for some size, and the Flames just don't have enough skill in the prospect pool yet to make that move (IMO). Sure, if a GM got stupid and wanted to trade a Nichushkin for Baertschi (a move I would make), then sure. Or a Barkov for Baerstchi. That is just not going to happen though.

Like everything it depends on value added. If said team feels that adding a roster player like Backs, Stemp, Cammy etc + Sven will make them a fringe play off team than they may pull the trigger. Too many variables to outright say this doesn't make sense. I don't consider Sven a Blue chip prospect so if I was trading him I wouldn't be asking for Nichushkin, but If I can throw Stempniak or someone on the way out anyway in and grab another B tier prospect with more size I would probably do it.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I don't understand any of the thoughts that sending Sven down means Burke has "made his mind up" on him. As many others have said, all it means is that's where Burke or maybe it's Hartley feels he'll develop best for now.

Sven has not been bad at all at the NHL level IMO. But he also hasn't been good. He's a young player, and many of supporters on here like to say his issue is confidence. If that's the case, what better place to grow his confidence than the AHL where he might actually put up some numbers. If Sven can't get / re-gain confidence from this assignment down to the Heat it will be because of how HE embraces it. If he chooses to pout, then it will do him no good and just create prove out that he has an attitude issue. If he embraces and eventually starts to light it up, it will show he's the player we want on our team and it will give him back huge confidence.

[mustache ride]

Nm

[sureLoss]

sven baertschi ‏@SvenBaertschi 10s
Thanks for all the support from the fans!

[Robo]

Originally Posted by mustache ride

From the sounds of it, King did not support the decision to fire Feaster. Does this signal an end of the control King had over the teams on ice product? Is this truly Burke's team?

I sure hope so

[cannon7]

Wasn't Burke done making changes for now? Isn't that what he said in his press conference? Guess he couldn't resist.

September 30th: Burke's First Blast in Calgary Aimted at Sven Baertschi

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by mustache ride

Nm

Missed that part. I'm sure this is a truely Burke move, and I'm also sure that it's tough for King because King chose Feaster. Burke is essentially saying King made a hiering mistake. But what have we heard that suggests King did not support this decision? Honestly asking cause I haven't heard anything.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Wasn't Burke done making changes for now? Isn't that what he said in his press conference? Guess he couldn't resist.

September 30th: Burke's First Blast in Calgary Aimted at Sven Baertschi

That's not a change, Sven is still in the organization. That be like complaining if Hartley makes a roster change before Dec 27th because Burke said they were done. Don't pretend you don't know the difference between what Burke said and meant via being done making changes and the natural movement of players within the organization.

[FlameZilla]

I think we can all see that Sven isn't playing as well as he can. He's taking a regular shift and appears to be doing what the coach asks of him (3 zones etc). However, he hasn't quite worked out how to play that way & implement his own style in order to put up the goals and assists we all know he's capable of. The AHL is there partially so that less experienced players can get accustomed to playing an NHL game, but at a lower level. What better place for him to be in order to get his mojo back and stop over-thinking when he should be letting instincts take over.

With Glencross's imminent return it was inevitable that Baertschi would be demoted to the 4th line or pressbox sooner or later. This won't be the last we see from Sven in a Flames uniform.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I'm also a fan of this move. What can Sven really learn when he's just getting pushed off the puck when an opposing player so much as breathes on him? Let him battle with guys his own size, get the confidence back up, be among a winning team and come back next year better than ever.

Guys his own size? Maybe a misconception about what the AHL actually is. He's just as likely if not more likely to get his face smashed into the boards by a stupid goon. Just ask Wotherspoon...

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Husky

And yet Burke's boy Coulbourne gets a free pass.

Colborne has played Baertschi into the ice. Colborne has also improved since arriving. Baertschi is all over the map. Good move to send him down.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by New Era

Colborne has played Baertschi into the ice. Colborne has also improved since arriving. Baertschi is all over the map. Good move to send him down.

Sorry, Baertschi has been better than Colborne.

Colborne would (should) be sent down if he wasn't subject to waivers.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Sorry, Baertschi has been better than Colborne.

This is so untrue it's funny. There is not one element of the game in which Baertschi has been better than Colborne, other than having a couple more second assists.

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by New Era

Colborne has played Baertschi into the ice. Colborne has also improved since arriving. Baertschi is all over the map. Good move to send him down.

Don't be ridiculous.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

This is so untrue it's funny. There is not one element of the game in which Baertschi has been better than Colborne, other than having a couple more second assists.

Colborne handles the puck like a grenade and cannot create his own offensive chances.

Baertschi, while inconsistent, shows flashes of his brilliance. He has more of an impact on the game than a passive player like Colborne.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Miniac

Don't be ridiculous.

He's not wake up