Sven "Fricken" Bartschi!

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Reading this thread it sounds as if this kid is going to be as good as Gretzky.

That's really what you gather from this thread?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

No.
There was a lot of questioning of the wisdom behind drafting Fata and Chucko. Backlund, on the other hand, generated quite a bit of excitement because of his performance at the World Juniors and in Kelowna's Memorial Cup run, but not as much as Sven has.

Kobasew got a lot of attention when he had a great training camp, but Button couldn't sign him so he went to juniors.

IIRC there was very little fanfare before Nieuwendyk, Hull or Fleury joined the team. Maybe because our team was a lot better than. If Sven is even half as good as those forwards we'll be doing well.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by fotze

The softness is definitely the biggest concern for me. Saw him at the airport, pretty suprised how small he was, and I know small.

After 20 years of following Flames prospects in the back pages of the foreign leagues stats in the Hockey News (remember thinking Chris O'Sullivan was going to be the shiznit) and being disappointed when they finally 'arrive' I have a hefty dose of pessimism.

That being said, Sven is the most promising I can recall.

Best fotze line ever!

[schooner]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

No.
There was a lot of questioning of the wisdom behind drafting Fata and Chucko. Backlund, on the other hand, generated quite a bit of excitement because of his performance at the World Juniors and in Kelowna's Memorial Cup run, but not as much as Sven has.

I cant speak for the earlier picks as I was a little too young. With Backlund, he was the number two rated Euro skater that year. He had injury troubles that year that dropped him down the rankings. The flames sent doctors to Sweden that year to be confident that he was good to go. So it looked like a steal at the time. And he may still turn out who knows.

Ive noticed that prospects always get valued higher the younger they are. For me though, what I like about Sven is his attitude. He is a young kid with some high end skill but I watch FlamesTV vids with him and he seems to have his head on straight. He possesses a great mix of confidence and swagger, combined with humility and excitement. He appears to be the type of player who really wants to succeed. So for that reason I am excited for him.

[GGG]

For me i am just happy we drafted the type of prospect we can get excited about. He might be a bust at the next level but is type of player that is either a top 6 guy or a bust. I like that better than getting a guy who will likely make your bottom 6 nut doesnt have that high end talent.

So i am going to enjoy the ride until we find out how good he is.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Reading this thread it sounds as if this kid is going to be as good as Gretzky.

No, but after the Chucko's, Fata's, Niemiz's, Taratukhin's (sp?), Boyd's....is it wrong to be excited that we finally have a prospect that has a good chance of become a top 3 forward? Especially since he's tearing it up in the WHL...

I don't why people need to be such downers all the time. After a terrible season(s), at least let us have this.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Honest question, because I can't remember:

Were Flames fans as excited about Backlund or Fata or Chucko, etc. as they are about Sven?

I doupt if there ever was a flame's pick that got the fans this excited. You have to go back to 1983(when points were like candy) to find a pick that averaged 2pts a game in junior (Quinn and Bradley) and both were in their 3rd season.

Without looking at oodles of stats I would think that it would be hard to find many busts that averaged 2 points a game in their 2nd season, Pavel Brendl comes to mind but I think he was mis-managed from the beginning.

BTW, in the last 10 years I think there has only been 3 players to score at that clip in junior, Crosby,Kane and Tavares.

[moon]

Originally Posted by T@T

BTW, in the last 10 years I think there has only been 3 players to score at that clip in junior, Crosby,Kane and Tavares.

I think Radulov and Corey Locke did as well. But Locke may have been 11 or 12 years ago.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by T@T

I doupt if there ever was a flame's pick that got the fans this excited. You have to go back to 1983(when points were like candy) to find a pick that averaged 2pts a game in junior (Quinn and Bradley) and both were in their 3rd season.

Without looking at oodles of stats I would think that it would be hard to find many busts that averaged 2 points a game in their 2nd season, Pavel Brendl comes to mind but I think he was mis-managed from the beginning.

BTW, in the last 10 years I think there has only been 3 players to score at that clip in junior, Crosby,Kane and Tavares.

Sam Ganger, Sergei Kostytsin

[sworkhard]

Originally Posted by T@T

I doupt if there ever was a flame's pick that got the fans this excited. You have to go back to 1983(when points were like candy) to find a pick that averaged 2pts a game in junior (Quinn and Bradley) and both were in their 3rd season.

Without looking at oodles of stats I would think that it would be hard to find many busts that averaged 2 points a game in their 2nd season, Pavel Brendl comes to mind but I think he was mis-managed from the beginning.

BTW, in the last 10 years I think there has only been 3 players to score at that clip in junior, Crosby,Kane and Tavares.

You have to remember this is Baertchi's 19 year old season, not his 18 year old season like most players that are just drafted. Baertchi is one of the oldest players picked in this past draft (among players drafted in their first year eligible)

There is a long list of players who put up >2PPG in the last 10 years in their 19 year old season. Some turned out great, but some, like Rob Schremp turn out to be busts. Usually those that turn out to be busts are those that score a lot on the PP but not much on ES. Baertchi's getting 60+% of his goals ES or SH which is very good for a top player, so that's not a concern. He also has a really good %of offense, with the highest number on the team.

Claude Giroux is probably the closest comparable to Baertchi at this point in his career. We can only hope Baertchi becomes as good.

[Roof-Daddy]

Another thing to remember about Baertschi, is despite the fact that this is his 19 year old season, it is only his second season in North America.

Nino Niederreiter as a comparison came over for his 18 year old season and only put up 0.92 points per game (Baertchsi put up 1.28 in his 18 year old rookie season, actually outscored Nino during his 19 year old season).

Then Nino put up only 1.27 points per game in his 19 year old sophomore season, meanwhile Baertschi is racking up a staggering 2.00 points per game in his sophomore season all while battling a couple of injuries.

We won't know if Baertschi's talents will translate to the NHL until he actually gets here, but for now there are plenty of reasons to get excited about this kid.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Another thing to remember about Baertschi, is despite the fact that this is his 19 year old season, it is only his second season in North America.

Nino Niederreiter as a comparison came over for his 18 year old season and only put up 0.92 points per game (Baertchsi put up 1.28 in his 18 year old rookie season, actually outscored Nino during his 19 year old season).

Then Nino put up only 1.27 points per game in his 19 year old sophomore season, meanwhile Baertschi is racking up a staggering 2.00 points per game in his sophomore season all while battling a couple of injuries.

We won't know if Baertschi's talents will translate to the NHL until he actually gets here, but for now there are plenty of reasons to get excited about this kid.

I was really excited to see how Nino would do in the NHL and he has been extremely mediocre for NYI this season. I think he has like 3 points in 30ish games (I think he plays on the 3rd or 4th line).

I just hope Sven is put into a position to succeed, AKA not on the 3rd or 4th line. Put him top 6 or send him to Abbotsford. Really there is no reason why he shouldn't be in the NHL next season other than perhaps his conditioning, but he already weigh's more than RNH does and RNH is doing relatively fine (his shoulder injury was himself being a dumbass).

[nik-]

I don't know if hoping Sven turns into a Nino is a good thing to hope for. Nino had a nice WJC and then a good second half of a season and then got selected by a ######ed franchise way ahead of where he was predicted.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by nik-

I don't know if hoping Sven turns into a Nino is a good thing to hope for. Nino had a nice WJC and then a good second half of a season and then got selected by a ######ed franchise way ahead of where he was predicted.

Same with Scheifele. I still can't believe that the Jets picked him over Couterier (sp?). I'm not hoping for Nino, I'm hoping for much better.

Would be nice to get another "Sven" in this years draft though (preferably a center).

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by nik-

I don't know if hoping Sven turns into a Nino is a good thing to hope for. Nino had a nice WJC and then a good second half of a season and then got selected by a ######ed franchise way ahead of where he was predicted.

Its funny Sven looked up to Nino and a big reason why he went to Portland, but I bet Sven will have a far better career than his role model.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I am not against throwing Sven into the 3rd line to start - but only if he has a decent center and that line is counted on as a scoring line, not an 'energy-grit' line.

Tanguay - Cammy - Iginla - scoring line
Glencross - Jokinen - X - defence/scoring line (plays against top lines)
Sven - Backlund - X - Scoring line with lower quality of opposition
Bouma - Jones - Jackman


Something like that makes sense. However, if Sven is going to play with guys like Jackman, Bouma, Jones, etc., I would rather he be sent down to the minors and develop some chemistry down there.

I want him to get 10 games in the NHL, however, even in a 4th line capacity. Just to get him used to the game speed and things he has to work on.

I would bet, however, that regardless of who the coach is next season, Baertschi has a spot to lose on the Flames, and I am sure he will make the team out of training camp.

****************** Fantastical Illusions of Grandeur Warning********************
I would actually love to see a 3rd line of Baertschi - Reinhart - Ferland. A great scorer/set-up man, great set-up man/defensively responsible forward/clutch player, and a very strong corner/net-front presence with good hands. It sounds like the makings of one heck of a line (IF - BIG IF) they all develop and crack the roster. Would be nice to have them all play together for the next while even on the Heat and allow them to get some chemistry. Just day-dreaming with the possibilities and reality probably tells me it Ferland and Reinhart probably have a ceiling of 3rd liners.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Its funny Sven looked up to Nino and a big reason why he went to Portland, but I bet Sven will have a far better career than his role model.

When he's with the Islanders, it's not that hard for Bartschi to have a better career.

[Coach]

I think if you could have a line of young skilled players it could be good for all of them. 3 of Sven, Backlund, Byron, Horak and even Jones could make a very fun line to watch if theyre playing against weaker competition.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Same with Scheifele. I still can't believe that the Jets picked him over Couterier (sp?). I'm not hoping for Nino, I'm hoping for much better.

Would be nice to get another "Sven" in this years draft though (preferably a center).

I'm hoping that if the Flames fall a bit further out of contention that they play Irving a bit more, and scratch a few veterans and let the rookies get some experience.

A good pick in the top ten this year could go a long ways to turning this franchise around in a hurry.

Where do you guys see this Galchenyuk (sp?) kid going? Is he a top 5, or will his injuries see him drop a bit?

[Wronskian]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Same with Scheifele. I still can't believe that the Jets picked him over Couterier (sp?). I'm not hoping for Nino, I'm hoping for much better.

Would be nice to get another "Sven" in this years draft though (preferably a center).

Galchenyuk? I really hope somehow we are able to nab him