Sven "Fricken" Bartschi!

[PlayfulGenius]

I don't see how Huberdeau is still at 3 right now... Nothing against him, but Couturier has passed him as of right now, for sure...especially considering the NHL playoffs... He'd go top 3-4 if it were done over, I reckon.

[Ashasx]

Huberdeau has big upside. I don't think Couturier does.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Huberdeau has big upside. I don't think Couturier does.

I agree, aside from scoring a hat-trick against a terrible Fleury he was invisble for most of the playoffs. I think he has the potential to become a 30/30 guy in the NHL but Huberdeau has much more upside.

[Cole436]

Just found this post. I had a mighty laugh. (WHL wise. Not jinxing the NHL career just yet)

Originally Posted by Jim Peplinski

I have no idea what you are talking about. Feaster and the scouting staff have $hit the bed with this pick. I have every right to be pissed off about it. And unlike you, I will not blindly cheer while Feaster runs this team into into the ground. You guys all wanted change in the form of getting rid of Sutter. Well you've got it. Feaster is going to make Craig "Pause" Button look like Ken Holland.

We needed to pick a player that has size and skill in the first round. There are plenty of small players like Bartschi available in the middle rounds (Howse, Reinhart as examples). Armia was available. Could have picked him. Big player who can score. And he's a Finn! Good hockey country. McNeil was available. Downside for him is a 3rd liner. And even if he didn't make it as a top six scorer, would likely be a reliable top 9 player like Malhotra. Bottom line, there were many other players available at that spot who would have been a better pick than Bartshi.

Lets summarize Bartshi:

-He doesn't skate well.
-He avoids traffic.
-He's a smurf, and therefore is either going to be a top six forward in the NHL, or he is going to be a complete bust. No middle ground for this guy.
-Has not produced when playing against the best of his peers. In fact, when he has played against the best of his peers, has demonstrated to be nothing more than a perimeter player who shy's away from traffic. This is very telling of what can be expected in the future from him. If he can't perform well against the best of his peers, how do you think he's going to do against the best players in the world?
-He has an October birthday, meaning that he is one of the oldest 18 year olds available in the draft. He essentially has one whole year more of development time then other members of his draft class. His season should really be compared to players picked in last years draft. Heck, he is only 3 weeks younger than Nino Niederreiter, who was picked in last years draft!

[Gary83]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Huberdeau has big upside. I don't think Couturier does.

You don't think Couturier has big upside? The guy already has a top end defensive skill set, he's a big bodied guy (6'4) that imo needs to put on another 20-30 lbs. I think he'll end up similar to Eric Staal offensive wise. The only real knock on him is his foot speed, something that can at least be worked on.

Without Couturier suffering through mono in his draft year I'm really not sure Huberdeau gets taken ahead of him.

Flyers got an absolute steal in this guy dropping, imho.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Tanguay - Cervenka - Iginla
Cammalleri - Stajan - Glencross
Baertschi - Backlund/Horak - Nemisz
Bouma - Jones - Jackman

I agree with virtually everything you said...

But it still frightens me that Cervenka might end up being the top option as a #1 Centre.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Gary83

You don't think Couturier has big upside? The guy already has a top end defensive skill set, he's a big bodied guy (6'4) that imo needs to put on another 20-30 lbs. I think he'll end up similar to Eric Staal offensive wise. The only real knock on him is his foot speed, something that can at least be worked on.

Without Couturier suffering through mono in his draft year I'm really not sure Huberdeau gets taken ahead of him.

Flyers got an absolute steal in this guy dropping, imho.

From what I've read, Couturier's lack of upside is the reason why he fell so much.

I think he'll be a good two way centre throughout his career, but I think he'll average about 50 points a season, with the odd 60 here and there.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

I would like to see Sven make the team on a young 3rd line:

Baertschi - Horak/Backlund - Nemisz

I think Baertschi played great with Nemisz before and those two compliment each other so well - one strong down low, one finding open ice. Also does not put the pressure on Sven to be a go to scorer on the 2nd line - let him have 2nd unit PP time, but not fulltime 2nd line duties.

If it were up to me, both Baertschi and Nemisz make the team, are roomed together on the road, and looked at as two guys who will play together long term.

Tanguay - Cervenka - Iginla
Cammalleri - Stajan - Glencross
Baertschi - Backlund/Horak - Nemisz
Bouma - Jones - Jackman

Ideally, I would like to see Stajan moved on - a dream deal would be packaging Stajan + Backlund/Horak + another piece for a centre who can play the top line, allowing Cervenka to start on the 2nd line, but as for fit, I think Stajan would play best with Glencross and Cammalleri.

I would prefer to see Baertschi at least get a chance for top 6 minutes from the start.

Tanguay - Cammalleri - Iggy
Baertschi - Cervenka - Glencross
Stajan - Backlund/Horak - Nemisz
Bouma - Jones - Jackman

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by T@T

I would prefer to see Baertschi at least get a chance for top 6 minutes from the start.

Tanguay - Cammalleri - Iggy
Baertschi - Cervenka - Glencross
Stajan - Backlund/Horak - Nemisz
Bouma - Jones - Jackman

why would you want to move our only centerman that can win faceoffs to the wing? one thing we can't afford to do is lose even more faceoffs.

When it comes to Baertschi though, I would have him play 3rd line with PP time.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

why would you want to move our only centerman that can win faceoffs to the wing? one thing we can't afford to do is lose even more faceoffs.

Though if Jokinen's not here next year, that's going to add a bunch of chances to win the faceoff at least... my god I don't think anyone gets thrown out of more faceoffs than Jokinen.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by T@T

I would prefer to see Baertschi at least get a chance for top 6 minutes from the start.

Tanguay - Cammalleri - Iggy
Baertschi - Cervenka - Glencross
Stajan - Backlund/Horak - Nemisz
Bouma - Jones - Jackman

I would prefer if Baertschi scores 50 goals, wins the Richard and Conn Smythe on a playoff march that sees this core win a Cup.

Let's see how he does at camp. I'd love to be surprised at his progress and that he could step into such an impact role to start. If he isn't ready for that, I would ease him into the NHL. He's 19 going into the new season...the last thing I want to see happen is letting him get matched against way too strong competition to start and losing confidence.

[Canada 02]

Craig Button says Sven could be one of the best 5 players from the 2011 draft

http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip695544#clip695544

[Miniac]

Sven on the cover of Dubnation online magazine June 2012.




Great read, have a look.

http://www.whl.ca/article/dubnation-...une-2012-issue
^^^
Free download!

[Samiz]

Wow, awesome article. Just cannot wait for Sven to be in the lineup every night.

[8sPOT]

That was a great article. Gotta be the thing I'm most looking forward to this year is watching this kid do his thing. If there is a lockout I'm gonna go postal.

[icarus]

Did anyone else notice that after Sven, the player with the most photos in this magazine is Laurent fricken Brossoit?

[TheGrimm]

Originally Posted by icarus

Did anyone else notice that after Sven, the player with the most photos in this magazine is Laurent fricken Brossoit?

Hah, was just going to post that.. It's nice to see we our cupboards are filling up.

Sven sounds like he has the right mix of traits to push himself through this next season. He's confident but not cocky, has a stellar work ethic and sounds truly appreciative of everything he's got.

Even if he never turns into a dominant offensive force in the NHL I think we have ourselves a quality guy who will make the Flames organization proud.

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by icarus

Did anyone else notice that after Sven, the player with the most photos in this magazine is Laurent fricken Brossoit?

Yup very exciting times for all Calgary Flames fans!

[Da_Chief]

Excited to see this kid.

Side note, we could be well-represented at the world juniors next year.
Sieloff, Gilles, Gaudreau are all invited to US camps.
Brossoit and Jankowski shoudl get an invite to Canadian Camp.
Ortio still eligible or no?

[Ashasx]

Ortio is too old.