Canucks Sign Baertschi

[Lanny_McDonald]

The Canucks are hoping they can get Baertschi to pull a Joe Colborne and become an effective NHL player. What the Canucks are missing is Colborne developed a new side to his game that wasn't there when he was with his former team. I seriously doubt Baertschi has that capacity. He is a 2nd line offensive player or he's headed back to Europe to star in the Swiss league.

[868904]

The approach the Canucks have taken this year is odd.

They have basically gotten rid of veterans to create vacancies for young players.

I understand the need to get younger and that makes sense, but it's very much against the Flames philosophy of creating a competitive environment and having the kids force their way into the lineup (this scenario is obviously not preferred by characters like Sven).

Guys like Gaudreau, Monahan, Jooris, Granlund, Ferland, etc. all forced expensive veterans to the press box by "earning the spot".

In Vancouver, openings are being created for guys like Sven, Corrado, Virtanen "to lose".

It'll be interesting to see how it all works out for the Canucks. I think the injection of youth is good for a veteran team like the Canucks, but I just wonder about the long term effects of not having to earn their place.

[FlamesAddiction]

I wouldn't be surprised if he puts up decent points in streaks this season, but he will still always be that player you always see skating by right after the other team scores on you.

He has shown no commitment to wanting to be a complete player. He has Alexander Korolyuk written all over him (except he was at least a 6th rounder and those flaws were expected).

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

Baerstchi's biggest problem is that he has no tenacity in the offensive zone (or any other one for that matter). His hockey sense isn't superb either. He is easy to push off his game, 'new attitude' or no.

It makes sense that he's on the Canucks now because he actually embodies everything that's wrong with that team. Skill with no heart.

Originally Posted by boogerz

Arguably Baertschi's best trait. He might be small, slow, soft, and have low intensity, but hockey sense definitely is not a weakness of his.

Originally Posted by BigRed

Agree. Sven's a pretty smart hockey player, with good vision. To be even slightly effective he'd need a finisher though, which Van doesn't have (assuming Vrbata plays top line).

Whatever the case, he's made of paper - gets knocked off the puck if you blow on him too hard. Good luck to him.


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Yeah, not to pile on WesternCanadaKing but hockey sense is arguably the one thing he does have, it's the reason he's still getting pro contracts despite an unwillingness to round out his NHL game.

Most guys that show the lack of commitment to becoming an NHL player that he has are out of the game really quickly. It's his hockey sense that has allowed him to put up great numbers at the junior level and allowed him to get by at the AHL/NHL level, while not getting dirty and muscling through to grind out more points, or acquire a defensive game.

[WesternCanadaKing]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Arguably Baertschi's best trait. He might be small, slow, soft, and have low intensity, but hockey sense definitely is not a weakness of his.

Drunk at 3 am is not exactly my most lucid state. You are right of course.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Where would Bart even fit on the Flames wings? Gaudreau, Hudler, Frolik, Colborne, Bouma, Granlund, Ferland.. more?

If he makes it on the Canucks and does well, good for him, he wouldn't be the first to not have a place on one team and work with another but he's so not needed here. The Flames are flush on the wing and only got better with an addition like Frolik and the continued progress of guys like Colborne, Ferland and Granlund.

[Locke]

Baertschi is basically 'top-6 or bust.'

His skill set just cannot translate to bottom 6 roles.

[Mike F]

To be honest, the more people on this site obsessively rag on Baertschi, the more I hope he turns into a solid NHL player, even if it is with the Canucks. I really don't understand the dislike or need to constantly put forth an argument about his perceived shortcomings.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Where would Bart even fit on the Flames wings? Gaudreau, Hudler, Frolik, Colborne, Bouma, Granlund, Ferland.. more?

If he makes it on the Canucks and does well, good for him, he wouldn't be the first to not have a place on one team and work with another but he's so not needed here. The Flames are flush on the wing and only got better with an addition like Frolik and the continued progress of guys like Colborne, Ferland and Granlund.

Throw Frolik on the first line with Gaudreau and Monahan. Keep Bouma-Backlund-Jones as a checking/shut down line. Ferland-Stajan-Colborne or whoever as the fourth line.

And with that, a sheltered third line with two young guys learning with Hudler. Baertschi-Bennett-Hudler would be pretty sweet. Of course, with Sven gone, maybe Colborne fills that spot. Or Ferland. Or even Raymond.

Sven never made room for himself here. I don't wish him ill, per se, but I don't miss him either.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Mike F

To be honest, the more people on this site obsessively rag on Baertschi, the more I hope he turns into a solid NHL player, even if it is with the Canucks. I really don't understand the dislike or need to constantly put forth an argument about his perceived shortcomings.

Okay, and Wotherspoon should be our #1 Centre.

Players have their uses, identifying them and saying that they should be put into a position to succeed by being able to use those strengths rather than having their weaknesses exploited isnt 'ragging.'

But sure, lets see them throw Baertschi on the 4th line as a checker and see what happens.

I'd be more inclined to wish him a long and successful hockey career if he werent a Canuck, but hey, I'm just a fan of a rival team not an executive of the player's union.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Mike F

To be honest, the more people on this site obsessively rag on Baertschi, the more I hope he turns into a solid NHL player, even if it is with the Canucks. I really don't understand the dislike or need to constantly put forth an argument about his perceived shortcomings.

He's a Canuck and this is a Flames forum. Why would we praise a Canuck especially when he badmouthed the Flames organization?

[Hackey]

I don't hate Baertschi like some but I definitely don't want him to turn into a player because one we gave him away and two he's with the Canucks. If he was to turn into a good player somewhere else it would sting a bit but having it happen on the Canucks would be terrible.

[neo45]

I want Baertschi to play well, get a massive contract from Benning, and THEN start to fail. Best of both worlds

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's a Canuck and this is a Flames forum. Why would we praise a Canuck especially when he badmouthed the Flames organization?

Where did he badmouth the organization, outside of saying that he felt he didn't get a fair shot?

And saying "we're going to criticize/refuse to praise a player just because he's a member of the Canucks" isn't much of a defense. It just undermines anyone's attempts to give an actual warranted critique of Canucks.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Agree. Sven's a pretty smart hockey player, with good vision. To be even slightly effective he'd need a finisher though, which Van doesn't have (assuming Vrbata plays top line).

Whatever the case, he's made of paper - gets knocked off the puck if you blow on him too hard. Good luck to him.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I think they'll put Vrbata with Baertschi to make him successful and Burrows with the Sedins.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Mike F

Where did he badmouth the organization, outside of saying that he felt he didn't get a fair shot?

And saying "we're going to criticize/refuse to praise a player just because he's a member of the Canucks" isn't much of a defense. It just undermines anyone's attempts to give an actual warranted critique of Canucks.

How about the fact that he requested a trade and told the Flames he wouldn't re-sign with them?

How about the fact that he seems to think that an NHL job shouldn't just be handed to him? Or the fact he doesn't seem to think he should have to be a complete player?

The guy has provided ample reason to not root for him. I'm more stunned that some folks continue to defend him.

[Tinordi]

Baertschi sucks

Move on

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Mike F

To be honest, the more people on this site obsessively rag on Baertschi, the more I hope he turns into a solid NHL player, even if it is with the Canucks. I really don't understand the dislike or need to constantly put forth an argument about his perceived shortcomings.

I have never understood the Sven apologists ok this site. He was a top prospect that bombed horribly. He was not held back as this organization has given young players a chance since he was drafted.

He didn't want to play in all 3 zones, pouted, and forced a trade. I hope he is out of the league in a year

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

How about the fact that he requested a trade and told the Flames he wouldn't re-sign with them?

How about the fact that he seems to think that an NHL job shouldn't just be handed to him? Or the fact he doesn't seem to think he should have to be a complete player?

The guy has provided ample reason to not root for him. I'm more stunned that some folks continue to defend him.

Yeah, he demanded a trade. So what?

It's funny...

X player signs a contract to play for Y team for __ years and $__M.

Very frequently, the team decides that, notwithstanding their agreement, it's in their self-serving interest to unilaterally sever the relationship, trading the player. Now the player is told he's a member of a team he never agreed to play for, will be moving to a city he never agreed to live in, and has to uproot his family, sell his house, etc. And not infrequently, when it's a deadline deal, the player is going from a team that he sweated and bled to put in a position to win a cup, to a team going nowhere. And when that happens, the player is expected to keep a stiff upper lip and say, "It's a business."

Yet when it's the player who unilaterally decides that it's in his and his family's best interest to sever the relationship, he's Benedict Arnold. Why is it not a business in this case?

If you had put a number of years into your employment organization and felt you were mired in a low level position with little chance of moving up, and felt that you could jump to another organization and have a much better chance to progress your career, making 5 times as much in short order, would you not jump at that, for yourself and your family? I sure as hell would.

And you know what? Baertschi got a 1-way deal from Vancouver, which he probably wouldn't have got from Calgary, and has a great chance to win a spot on Vancouver's opening roster, which he would have had a much more difficult time doing this year in Calgary. So, as a fellow member of the labour force in a somewhat unsatisfying employment position, I say good for him.

And sure, I'd prefer that his success come somewhere other than Vancouver. But that destination was Treliving's choice, not his.

[JiriHrdina]

Don't you mean...Svenedict Arnold?