Flames assign Sven Baertschi to the Heat

[saillias]

Posting images like that is useless and doesn't contribute to discussion. Russel's minutes are in fact, sheltered.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by saillias

Posting images like that is useless and doesn't contribute to discussion. Russel's minutes are in fact, sheltered.

[lifetimefan]

Originally Posted by Quincy Egg

If they are sending Sven down to the AHL to work on his defensive game, why is Monahan still here? Last time I checked he was fairly weak in his own end as well.

Monahan can't play in the AHL this year - it's OHL or NHL.
He has more of a chance to develop with the Flames than dominating kids.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Quincy Egg

If they are sending Sven down to the AHL to work on his defensive game, why is Monahan still here? Last time I checked he was fairly weak in his own end as well.

1) Monahan can't be sent down unless you mean sent back to junior where he won't learn a thing.

2) He's a pretty smart player in his own end.

3) Smarten up!

[Scoreface]

PMM must be grinning from ear to ear hearing this news.

If Sven can't handle this, then he is selfish and won't be an NHLer. If he handles it like I think he can and has in the past, he will thank Hartley and management for sending him down and giving him a prominent role there under who appears to be a players coach who teaches the game well, in Ward.

This is probably make or break for him though. Although early in his career, Burke has already publicly chastised him, so if he doesn't make the most of this, I feel he will be on his way out. He sulked a bit last time but sucked it up and did well down there to get called up. He should be thankful he will see lots of ice in Abby and gel with guys mostly his age down there, and much potential to shine.

As another poster said, he needs to learn to battle for EVERY loose puck and drive into the offensive end instead of Oilering it with too much finesse. That I find promising. It's ok for the garbage team up North to do that, but it's not accepted here. He's not the elite player who can only try to show up in the offensive zone. He has shown more compete in all three zones the last while, but he really needs to bring it to another level in the AHL.

Welcome to a winning team full of enthusiasm and drive to compete together and win. Much like the big club, just a different twist with more possibility to succeed for him, and as a team, down there. Which can only be good for his development. You don't trade a guy shortly after he gets sent down. You watch and wait for him to grow and succeed as a professional. Give em all you got down there, Sven!

[Hockey_Ninja]

No problems with this. Good luck down their Sven. Now win that Calder Cup for us.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

sven baertschi ‏@SvenBaertschi 10s
Thanks for all the support from the fans!

I really wish Baertschi would stop reading this board or wherever else he goes to follow discussion about him. It's just not a good idea at this point in his career.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I really wish Baertschi would stop reading this board or wherever else he goes to follow discussion about him. It's just not a good idea at this point in his career.

I think people tweet him...but I somewhat agree...he needs to worry less about what others think (supportive or not) and focus on his game. He is at a very important stage in his development.

[Enoch Root]

I think this is a good move for Sven and I am happy to see him joining the positive culture of the Heat.

They have a very good chance of going on a deep playoff run which will be good for development as well as that group bonding and learning to trust each other.

Sven also needs to get stronger and better there than under a spotlight

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Red

He can't finish. Can't pass, doesn't hit, doesn't fight. He is purely a filler. He skates well and is decent on the boards, but besides that he does little to help the team. He lost us our last game by taking a delay of game penalty and then turning over the puck for the second Boston goal.

Agree that can useree that he brings more to the team than Sven. But neither should be on an NHL team.

he does finish his checks. He wins face offs . His reach alone as shown to be a positive . he's not an enforcer , he dosen't need to fight unless he absoultly has too. He's come as advertised a big guy, that can skate , use his reach and can win face offs. Mangement said he was big but, HE WAS NOT A HUGE PHYSYCIL HITTER. Bruke most likely has a good idea what Colbourn will bring. After all he traded for him twice. Well at least once for sure, but of course we all know he most likely "advised " Feaster on the second

Heres a clip since i am not aloud to embed yet it says
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Ee02WLxGk

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by T@T

1) Monahan can't be sent down unless you mean sent back to junior where he won't learn a thing.

2) He's a pretty smart player in his own end.

3) Smarten up!

This x10 . O and Sven has 8 goals 16 assist and is a -2 in 51 games. Moahan has 9 goals and 6 assist but unfortunately is a -7 in in 24 games.

[stemit14]

I hope Sven tears it up in the AHL for now and is back soon. I think a lot of criticism has been misplaced on him. It has to be very confusing to the kid when he made a great play to get the puck up the boards to hudler on his goal in the boston game while taking a solid hit just to make it happen... Only to be called out 2 days later for not being good in all 3 zones.

[Wastedyouth]

I don't mind Burke calling out Baertschi, I don't even mind if its not coupled with appeasing his feelings.

If Burke believes that Sven has all the skills to not just be "compentent" in his own zone, but a strong 3 zone player, then whatever, he can spend two years in the AHL, if he comes out of it the best player he can be.

I enjoy watching Hall and Eberle and RNH up in Edmonton when I see the games, but it is very apparent that those three are not 3 zone players, they are barely 2 zone players.

[FlameZilla]

I have a funny feeling we won't see Sven with the Flames this season unless one or two of Cammalleri, Glencross, Hudler or Stempniak are traded or injured.

I do hope that when he returns he shows some of his natural offensive instincts which he demonstrated near the end of last season. Self-doubt is a killer & I hope his time with the Heat can help him regain some poise and confidence.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Red

Both Colborne and Baertschi have been useless.
Colborne has no hands and Baertschi has a "Rico Fata" syndrome. Needs to slow down and not try do everything at full speed.

If you watch the two players away from the puck, you'd see that one has been far less useless than the other. But there is also a difference of roles. Colborne's level of play is much closer to what we want and expect from him than Baertschi's is.

[gunnner]

Ive been one of those hating Hartley for his treatment of Sven, and I think Sven has looked great the last few games, and is working harder than any flame. That being said he only has 2 goals all year, and we dont want him to be a grinder, we want him to score. Let him go down and score some goals just to regain the touch. That alone is a good enough reason. I think he will be back when all our small players get traded (Stempniak, Cammy, and hopefully Glencross). Hindsight 20/20 Backlund likely needed one or maybe two more years of AHL. Backlunds days as a Flame are numbered.

[saillias]

I don't think Backlund needed any more AHL time than he got. Maybe expectations for him were just too high. He's become a good player. If he could get faceoffs to 50%, we could start calling him valuable.

[HartAttack]

Sven seems to be allergic to the puck right now - doesn't win board battles, doesn't ever control the puck, and always seems to get pushed off the puck.

The demotion to the AHL will allow him to regain some confidence. But yet, I don't think it's entirely a confidence issue. The guy needs time to bulk up. If this were NHL 14 video game, I'd be putting all my XP towards Balance, Strength, Puck Control and Defensive Awareness.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by saillias

I don't think Backlund needed any more AHL time than he got. Maybe expectations for him were just too high. He's become a good player. If he could get faceoffs to 50%, we could start calling him valuable.

You may be 100% right, or you may be wrong. I remember Iginla talking about his first season in Calgary - how much more difficult it was to score in the NHL. He started thinking that perhaps his ceiling in the NHL was that of a 3rd line grinder. Maybe a 20 goal guy (something like that anyways - felt that maybe his offence from junior wouldn't translate too well). Well, we all know how that story unfolded.

Looking at Backlund, was he a product of being rushed, or unlike Iginla, just never had that potential. You see the flashes of offensive talent, and he has a very, very hard slapper. He is quick and intelligent.

I don't know the answer. I do think it wouldn't have hurt Backlund's development in the slightest going to the AHL for a couple of seasons. If he was rushed, then it has hurt Backlund. That is how I kind of see things. It won't hurt Baertschi going down there, as it will give him premium minutes, and Ward seems to like using guys in different situations so he can expose them to new things.

While some people in this thread don't like the move, I haven't seen anything thus far about potentially hurting his development either. Stronger risk of hurting his development in rushing a player that is not ready, than letting a prospect develop too long.

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by codynw

I doubt there's any callups, probably just making room for players coming back from injury.

Hopefully Sven doesn't get bummed out and tears the AHL up.

Agreed. Crying solves nothing.