Will Sven Bounce Back?

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Rerun

As for the the stat line, you got me there. I forgot he was injured and was send down after 9 or 10 games. By the way, what ever happened to the Sven that came back and scored 9 or 10 points in 9 games? MIA is what I think.

I also suspect Hartley, Feaster, and Burke are wondering the same thing.

Well, he's on a 3 game point streak right now, so they're probably not spending too much time wondering.

[Da_Chief]

Sven is one of most exciting prospects in hockey not just on the Flames and the glass half empty fans are bitching about his current production. Finding a reason to moan.

Why not just follow his growth (which is happening) and enjoy it.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by codynw

Well, he's on a 3 game point streak right now, so they're probably not spending too much time wondering.

With only 1 goal in 18 games (and the majority of those games he was playing with Monahan and Hudler), I suspect they are.

Hell, even I could pick up the occasional assist (through no skill of my own) if I got to play regularly with those two.

Nobody seems to want to acknowledge Sven's current terrible goal production pace. A quarter of the season is gone and he has 1 goal!!!

At that pace he'll end up with 4 for the season .... woopeee!!!

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Rerun

With only 1 goal in 18 games (and the majority of those games he was playing with Monahan and Hudler), I suspect they are.

Hell, even I could pick up the occasional assist (through no skill of my own) if I got to play regularly with those two.

Nobody seems to want to acknowledge Sven's current terrible goal production pace. A quarter of the season is gone and he has 1 goal!!!

At that pace he'll end up with 4 for the season .... woopeee!!!

You're opposite of what they call smart.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

You're opposite of what they call smart.

Oh... zing... you got me.


You're not Sven's mom by the way, are you?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Rerun

With only 1 goal in 18 games (and the majority of those games he was playing with Monahan and Hudler), I suspect they are.

Hell, even I could pick up the occasional assist (through no skill of my own) if I got to play regularly with those two.

Nobody seems to want to acknowledge Sven's current terrible goal production pace. A quarter of the season is gone and he has 1 goal!!!

At that pace he'll end up with 4 for the season .... woopeee!!!

He's an NHL rookie who's a half PPG player through half a full season's worth of games. What part of this are you not getting?

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Oh... zing... you got me.


You're not Sven's mom by the way, are you?

Not a zing, just helping you face facts, you're opposite of smart.

You're not Sven's ex-gf are you?

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

He's an NHL rookie who's a half PPG player through half a full season's worth of games. What part of this are you not getting?

He seems fixated on Sven's current cold streak.

Here's a similar stretch for Daniel Sedin

Daniel's 2nd full season in NHL
October 10th - November 27th (21 games), 2002/2003 NHL Season:

21 Games Played
2 Goals
6 assists
8 pts in 21 games.

0.381 PPG.

Daniel's 1st full season in NHL
October 4th - November 15th, 2001/2002 NHL Season:
21 Games played
1 goal
5 assists
6 pts in 21 games

0.286 PPG.

If we're going to go by Sven's goal/point output as the measuring stick for whether or not he's a good player, well...at this stage, Sven is a better NHL'er than Daniel Sedin was at this point in his career.

[Da_Chief]

He's stuck on Sven's 1 goal. I honestly don't think he watches the games, Sven's had nice chances last few games, just not going in for him right now but he's doing everything else right. Once he gets one there'll be more after.

[foshizzle11]

I know this was mentioned before but he really needs to just start pumping the puck at the net, preferably with traffic. But it seems more likely that Hudler or someone from the point is shooting on their line. I don't see Sven shooting too often when it isn't an odd man rush for example.

It seems simple but just isn't happening.

That being said, he seems to be learning from his mistakes and is improving, that is all that we can ask. He will be fine.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I really think this just comes down to Sven's linemates. He knows both Hudler and Monahan are skilled players who will put the puck in the net if accepting a pass from the right position. Just as in his junior days where he racked up the points feeding Ty Rattie who was constantly facing open nets.

When Sven scored 3 in 5 games last year he may of had a shoot first mentality as he was the only skilled player on his line (wasn't going to let plays die on Nemisz's stick).

He definitely does need to shoot more, but hes made soo many great passes, some resulting in timely goals. He has the skill and seems to be getting stronger on the puck. We may see a deadly forechecker in Sven by the end of the season. If I had seen sven constantly making bad plays than I would be on his back.

If I was only looking at the stats as Rerun is obviously doing than I'd probably have a similar stance. Thank goodness I'm an actual hockey fan who analyzes gameplay.

[FBI]

One thing I've noticed is Sven has the puck along the boards, behind the net etc, doing some good stick work and then he will make a good pass to the D.. Then the play dies on the stick of our D.. Hoping the D can start making some smarter plays..

[codynw]

Sven is 21 years old. He's producing at the same pace other great offensive players were at his age. He's playing perfectly fine. If he's still playing like this in a year or two, then you can be worried.

[Rerun]

Sigh..... There's going to be a lot of hand ringing, nashing of teeth, and moaning and groaning here if Wonder Boy gets sent to Abbotsford.

Frankly, its really amazing how many arm chair coaches here have such a different opinion of Sven than what Hartley and Burke do (who I might add probably have about 75 years experience between the two of them in professional hockey).

I'm surprised the Flames aren't knocking down your doors offering you jobs.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Sigh..... There's going to be a lot of hand ringing, nashing of teeth, and moaning and groaning here if Wonder Boy gets sent to Abbotsford.

Frankly, its really amazing how many arm chair coaches here have such a different opinion of Sven than what Hartley and Burke do (who I might add probably have about 75 years experience between the two of them in professional hockey).

I'm surprised the Flames aren't knocking down your doors offering you jobs.

So whatever Hartley and Burke do it is 100% correct? cuz they 75 years of experience? lol

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Sigh..... There's going to be a lot of hand ringing, nashing of teeth, and moaning and groaning here if Wonder Boy gets sent to Abbotsford.

Frankly, its really amazing how many arm chair coaches here have such a different opinion of Sven than what Hartley and Burke do (who I might add probably have about 75 years experience between the two of them in professional hockey).

I'm surprised the Flames aren't knocking down your doors offering you jobs.

Quit while you aren't too far behind. Your grasping at straws here.

FYI the reason Sven had been the in doghouse has NOTHING to do with his play in the offensive zone as you are so concerned about. It was his ability to play in all 3 zones which have noticeably improved so you won't see Sven go to Abby now or be a healthy scratch moving forward. A message was sent and well received.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I think Baertschi has really made an effort to improve his two way game. It still isn't great and he is less than effective in two zones, but he is trying and learning. I can see why management would not be happy with him. He isn't using those smarts he has to his advantage. He isn't using his hockey IQ to read plays and make smart defensive zone plays like Datsyuk. If he's going to be soft on the defensive side of the puck he has to be a lot smarter.

In the offensive zone he also refuses to go to the tough parts of the ice where he can score. He's playing around the perimeter and picking up assists, which I don't think the team was expecting. I think they were expecting him to go to the dirty areas, like he did in junior or during his emergency call-up, and score some goals. He doesn't have a hard shot, so he isn't going to beat goaltenders from the perimeter. To score he needs to go to the net and he isn't doing that.

I think that the management are disappointed in Baertschi's play because he isn't using the smarts advantage he has over other players. It shows in all zones. He's trying to make plays through people rather than making the intelligent play. He is an exciting talent, but so was Robbie Schremp. Baertschi needs to use his skill set better and display that nose for the net more often. Second assists aren't going to carve out a NHL career for him, at least not with the Calgary Flames with Hartley, Feaster and Burke calling the shots.

[haiku]

hahaha rerun
you're embarrassing yourself
watch a game or two

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Sigh..... There's going to be a lot of hand ringing, nashing of teeth, and moaning and groaning here if Wonder Boy gets sent to Abbotsford.

Frankly, its really amazing how many arm chair coaches here have such a different opinion of Sven than what Hartley and Burke do (who I might add probably have about 75 years experience between the two of them in professional hockey).

I'm surprised the Flames aren't knocking down your doors offering you jobs.

If he gets sent to Abbotsford, it will be because the management thinks that's the best course of action to turn Sven into the player we all expect him to be. It won't be to scare him off to the KHL or in preparation to trade him.

They know exactly what they're doing with Sven. They have him figured out. He's a 21 year old kid. He's a simple puzzle.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by New Era

I think Baertschi has really made an effort to improve his two way game. It still isn't great and he is less than effective in two zones, but he is trying and learning. I can see why management would not be happy with him. He isn't using those smarts he has to his advantage. He isn't using his hockey IQ to read plays and make smart defensive zone plays like Datsyuk. If he's going to be soft on the defensive side of the puck he has to be a lot smarter.

In the offensive zone he also refuses to go to the tough parts of the ice where he can score. He's playing around the perimeter and picking up assists, which I don't think the team was expecting. I think they were expecting him to go to the dirty areas, like he did in junior or during his emergency call-up, and score some goals. He doesn't have a hard shot, so he isn't going to beat goaltenders from the perimeter. To score he needs to go to the net and he isn't doing that.

I think that the management are disappointed in Baertschi's play because he isn't using the smarts advantage he has over other players. It shows in all zones. He's trying to make plays through people rather than making the intelligent play. He is an exciting talent, but so was Robbie Schremp. Baertschi needs to use his skill set better and display that nose for the net more often. Second assists aren't going to carve out a NHL career for him, at least not with the Calgary Flames with Hartley, Feaster and Burke calling the shots.

Baertschi's issues in the defensive zone stem 100% from an inconsistent motor. His awareness is evident, he has a great stick for breaking up plays, and he is often in the right position. he isn't lost in his own zone. Earlier on, he wasn't playing defense with the same explosiveness and tenacity he played offense with. That was their issue with him.

Comparisons to Rob Schremp aren't fair. Schremp was a PP specialist who couldn't skate and didn't want to compete. He played on a stacked junior team, and made some money off it.

You're right, he does need to go to the net more, and although he doesn't have the heaviest shot, it's pretty accurate and it's quick enough. He doesn't need to blow it through people.

When Sven was having success in his emergency callup, it was because he looked like he knew exactly where he was supposed to be, and the game was being played in slow motion. His skillset and style is very reminiscent of Eberle. He needs to get back to that simple smart style of game. There's greatness in him, he just has to figure out how to get at it.