...And Baertschi Too!

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

What do ppl think of Hanowski as the future RWer on Sven and Monahan's line? Big body whos progressing rapidly. (Partially posting in this thread so Sven's thread doesn't fall to pg 2)

I personally don't see him being a top 6 player, however if he keeps putting up numbers in the AHL, I think he could be a solid offensive minded 3rd liner.

[Enoch Root]

Hanowski doesn't have enough speed for that role.

Poirier holds promise.

It would be an absolute Godsend if Ferland developed into that player. He has the speed, size and feistiness. He also understands that he has to go t the net. If he can take his game to the next level, the Flame rebuild would get a massive shot in the arm.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Monahan is already 6'2 and approaching 200 pounds at 19 years old. He isn't going to need a big body presence on his wings.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

I don't think Hanowski has the speed for the NHL at all.

He might still develop it, and he has improved somewhat over only a few months, but I don't think he'll be NHL calibre in any role, or on any line, unless/until he gets significantly faster.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Hanowski will be an NHL player, but he may get pushed out of Calgary. However, he just may be one of those guys that just produces offence against the odds. He isn't the fastest skater, he doesn't have the best shot, and he isn't the grittiest... but he manages to score and produce at the pro-level thus far (including his goal in the NHL - fluke or not).

I think the Flames will draft even more depth this year (plus trades, plus signings), and unless Hanowski develops further, eventually other prospects will simply crowd him out.

[stemit14]

Great to have that rookie pairing in Monahan and baertschi... In a year or two, poirier might be the next piece to that line. Gaudreau will have backlund and hudler next year I hope

[djsFlames]

No way. Johnny and Sean displayed notable chemistry development in a short period of time. I think they would suit each other more than Backlund. If one of the two LWers could convert to the right side, that could be one heck of a line. But I also have hopes that Poirier can get into the big team picture next season.. if so, he may be destined for that spot.

It's okay though. I'm sure Johnny would elevate the offensive play of whoever is around him, while slipping through opposing defenders and threading beautifully hand-wrapped gifts into an open slot for his linemates.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

I don't think Hanowski has the speed for the NHL at all.

He might still develop it, and he has improved somewhat over only a few months, but I don't think he'll be NHL calibre in any role, or on any line, unless/until he gets significantly faster.

He dropped a lot of weight over the summer, and to my eyes looked faster in camp. He's also been one of the best players in Abby so far this season. I don't think we've seen the last of Hanowski with the big club.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

He dropped a lot of weight over the summer, and to my eyes looked faster in camp. He's also been one of the best players in Abby so far this season. I don't think we've seen the last of Hanowski with the big club.

I fully agree with this.

I only said that I don't think he has the speed to play top line with Baertschi.

However, I agree that his skating has improved and that he has a decent chance of having an NHL career.

I think his ceiling is something like a Stempniak - a solid 3rd line guy who can put the puck in the net and provide some physicality (probably more physicality and less goals)

[squiggs96]

On this forum there are lots of comparisons of Monahan to Toews, and stemming from that many of us are hoping that Monahan and Baertschi turn into our version of Toews and Kane. From the Burke press conference where he talked about how Sven needed to compete more in all three phases, the opinions were split on whether we agreed with Burke or not.

Here's an article from espn today on Patrick Kane's transition from scorer, with little care for defense, to the player he is today.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blac...ve-defense-too

Seven years later, Kane shakes his head at his old self. His appreciation for defense has grown each year in the league, and he’s more defensive-minded this season than he’s ever been. He ranks second on the team and is tied for fourth in the league with nine takeaways.

“I didn’t know too much about defense, I guess, coming into the league,” Kane said on Thursday. “I was on a high-powered offensive team in junior that was a lot about scoring and was pretty much strictly about offense for myself and players like myself.

“As you grow older, you learn more about it and you become mature about defense. I think you see a lot of players have done that throughout their career.”

I think Sven has been great so far this year. He's worked hard on his game and has been much more physical and defensively responsible than last year, while still keeping his offensive touch. If Sean and Sven turn out to be anywhere near the caliber of Toews and Kane, we are going to be very excited to watch them over the course of their careers. I'd even support Sven growing a mullet to complete the look.

[Vulcan]

Here's an article on Baertschi.

When he was first recalled by the Flames in the spring of 2012, Sven Baertschi was all offence. The 2011 first round draft pick scored three goals in a five-game cup of coffee with the Flames and fired 10 shots on net in that span.
Defensive play, it is safe to say, wasn't on his mind a whole lot.

"Even as a winger, say you're the first man back - you play the man down low and you have to know what you're doing.
"For me, that's an important thing right now. It's a learning process and I feel like it's getting better and better."


http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?...id=DL|CGY|home