Will Sven Bounce Back?

[JobHopper]

It's quite simple to see that the Flames need more goals to win games and Sven is a turnover machine.

He gets the puck to the offensive blueline and then it's like he doesn't know what to do with it.

Last game in the 1st period around the 9 minute mark, Sven Baertschi came down the wing with the puck and Stajan was just off his left. Instead of just dropping a little pass to Stajan who had speed Sven decides to go wide and into the far corner and goes offside.

A play like that needs to end with a shot on net at minimum. Stajan would have taken the puck down the wing while Baertschi and Stempniak could have positioned themselves in the slot for a quick pass and shot on net. Even if Sven would have gotten into the corner to where he was heading, that play was very limited from there and dead.

So that's just one example. That sounds to me like a lot of coaching and correcting to do on the bench during a game.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

It's quite simple to see that the Flames need more goals to win games and Sven is a turnover machine.

He gets the puck to the offensive blueline and then it's like he doesn't know what to do with it.

Last game in the 1st period around the 9 minute mark, Sven Baertschi came down the wing with the puck and Stajan was just off his left. Instead of just dropping a little pass to Stajan who had speed Sven decides to go wide and into the far corner and goes offside.

A play like that needs to end with a shot on net at minimum. Stajan would have taken the puck down the wing while Baertschi and Stempniak could have positioned themselves in the slot for a quick pass and shot on net. Even if Sven would have gotten into the corner to where he was heading, that play was very limited from there and dead.

So that's just one example. That sounds to me like a lot of coaching and correcting to do on the bench during a game.

Oh please. As much as I am all for accountability and smart play, Sven isn't the first player to put his teammates offside on a rush. The whole league would be sitting in the press box if that was an offense worthy of benching.

I agree Sven has faults. But let's not start picking on him for actions that are part of a routine hockey game.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by JoelOtto29

What team are you watching? Calm down. The coaching staff know what they're doing and that certainly doesn't mean scratching him out of spite.

I don't think this is a fair assessment to assume that the coaching staff automatically knows what is best for Sven.

Heck, another former Winterhawk and Swiss player needed to be moved from the Islanders organization to the Wild in order to start developing properly - early results look like Niederreiter was a massive failure for the Islanders organization and coaching staff.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I noticed Baertschi on that first Oilers goal. He was the only forward coming back, Hall had the jump on him, had speed on him, he was in an impossible situation.

But of course he'll get benched as a result.

Sure, you don't hand icetime to youngsters like candy, but he's not playing as poorly as coaching staff would have you believe, and personally, I think they're expecting the wrong things from him. Same thing with Backlund.

I thought Baertschi played well against the Oilers and yes he probably missed his assignment on one goal against but so as everyone else in this team. Scratching him once or twice when you think he is not doing his job is probably be okay but scratching him after the game where he was one of the visible forward who hits, play defensively is getting ridiculous. I get it that Hartley is probably trying to match the Winnipeg Jets physical play but it wouldn't help if Jackman or McGrattan is only playing 4 to 7 minutes a game at the most. What good is that? Why not bench some veteran who is just taking some spot on the lineup? Ridiculous.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Oh please. As much as I am all for accountability and smart play, Sven isn't the first player to put his teammates offside on a rush. The whole league would be sitting in the press box if that was an offense worthy of benching.

I agree Sven has faults. But let's not start picking on him for actions that are part of a routine hockey game.

But that was the best scoring opportunity he had all game even though Sven had the puck a lot. Also would have put the Flames up 1-0 at that point. They got 2 more right after that and they could have had a 3-0 lead.

That's how tight the games really are.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

It's quite simple to see that the Flames need more goals to win games and Sven is a turnover machine.

He gets the puck to the offensive blueline and then it's like he doesn't know what to do with it.

Last game in the 1st period around the 9 minute mark, Sven Baertschi came down the wing with the puck and Stajan was just off his left. Instead of just dropping a little pass to Stajan who had speed Sven decides to go wide and into the far corner and goes offside.

A play like that needs to end with a shot on net at minimum. Stajan would have taken the puck down the wing while Baertschi and Stempniak could have positioned themselves in the slot for a quick pass and shot on net. Even if Sven would have gotten into the corner to where he was heading, that play was very limited from there and dead.

So that's just one example. That sounds to me like a lot of coaching and correcting to do on the bench during a game.

lol 3 games ago people were complaining that he wasn't shooting enough and going for his own opportunities Now he's being criticized because he didn't pass to Stajan (once) and instead tried to drive the net.

[JoelOtto29]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I don't think this is a fair assessment to assume that the coaching staff automatically knows what is best for Sven.

Heck, another former Winterhawk and Swiss player needed to be moved from the Islanders organization to the Wild in order to start developing properly - early results look like Niederreiter was a massive failure for the Islanders organization and coaching staff.

Yep. It's also pretty ridiculous to assume that Hartley is mis-developing a player who has 40 NHL games under his belt by letting him sit though.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I noticed Baertschi on that first Oilers goal. He was the only forward coming back, Hall had the jump on him, had speed on him, he was in an impossible situation.

But of course he'll get benched as a result.

Sure, you don't hand icetime to youngsters like candy, but he's not playing as poorly as coaching staff would have you believe, and personally, I think they're expecting the wrong things from him. Same thing with Backlund.

If the benching is driven because of that incident, then i think it's a rather curious teaching choice by Hartley.

In general, Sven was acting responsibly on that play. He made two mistakes in that he didn't immediately commit to turning and fully skating back, and should have been focused on the player at center ice the whole time rather than switching as he did. But that play to me is a perfect occasion for reinforcement by the mentor... and that in turn gives the mentee some experience so that in the future he'll make the right choice.

[six pack]

They need to send Sven down to get him away from Hartley, there are guys far more deserving of sitting than Sven.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

But that was the best scoring opportunity he had all game even though Sven had the puck a lot. Also would have put the Flames up 1-0 at that point. They got 2 more right after that and they could have had a 3-0 lead.

That's how tight the games really are.

That's all well and good. It's just not a benchable offense.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by six pack

They need to send Sven down to get him away from Hartley, there are guys far more deserving of sitting than Sven.

Yup.

I think Baertschi is an NHLer and should be playing.

But I would rather see him playing under Ward than going through this with Hartley.

In fact, things are going really well in Abby. Add Sven to the mix - and hopefully Agostino, Arnold and Gaudreau in April - and see what they can do.

Nothing would be better than a really deep playoff run in Abby, followed by Ward replacing Hartley next year.

[dissentowner]

I love how many on here think they know more than a veteran NHL coach. Obviously there is a problem with Sven and I trust Hartley knows what he is doing. I think Feaster should be sending Sven to the AHL, not sure what he is waiting on there.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I love how many on here think they know more than a veteran NHL coach. Obviously there is a problem with Sven and I trust Hartley knows what he is doing. I think Feaster should be sending Sven to the AHL, not sure what he is waiting on there.

No matter how good of a mentor, or coach, or teacher or whatever that a person is, NO ONE handles every person and every situation well.

It is a ridiculous notion to think that, just because he is an NHL coach, that he automatically is going to handle every player well.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by JoelOtto29

Yep. It's also pretty ridiculous to assume that Hartley is mis-developing a player who has 40 NHL games under his belt by letting him sit though.

Only took 64 to mess with Nino. Tick Tock.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I love how many on here think they know more than a veteran NHL coach. Obviously there is a problem with Sven and I trust Hartley knows what he is doing. I think Feaster should be sending Sven to the AHL, not sure what he is waiting on there.

Hartley wouldn't be an NHL coach right now if not for nepotism.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

But that was the best scoring opportunity he had all game even though Sven had the puck a lot. Also would have put the Flames up 1-0 at that point. They got 2 more right after that and they could have had a 3-0 lead.

That's how tight the games really are.

That train of logic suggests that coaches should sit players who miss the net on breakaways.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

That train of logic suggests that coaches should sit players who miss the net on breakaways.

They probably should and I think that's the type of coach that Harley is. This is the NHL.

I remember a game last year in Vancouver that went to a shootout and Hartley picks Blair Jones I believe to be the first shooter. He didn't score and maybe missed the net as well.

He was demoted shortly after and I see he's the leading scorer there now. Blair was struggling at that point as well and Harley put him on the spot. Why hasn't he been back yet?

[St. Pats]

I see a lot of defending of Sven in this thread and cannot imagine why anyone would bother. Watching him on the ice is so frustrating. No wonder the coach wants to bench him. He has no defensive awareness and is so slow to react. He has offensive instincts with the puck but without it he is virtually useless. Not physical, not a gifted skater.

His game needs to be much more well rounded for him to make an impact. He should be down in the AHL.

They should be rotating young guys from the Heat up anyway. Give the guys down there that are showing well some NHL time. Those that aren't going well with the big club can go down to the AHL and get big minutes and work on their game.

Not like they should be even worrying slightly about winning games. It should entirely be about development and where the player needs to be for that to be happening most efficiently.

[saillias]

Reporters saw him having a shouting match with Gelinas in a practice. Then he was sent down. I just assumed it was the open disrespect to a coach that ruined Jones' Flames career.

[spennywalks]

bob hartley has screws loose