Canucks Sign Baertschi

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

What I find the most perplexing thing in regards to Sven is his lack of commitment. I still remember the stories that came out post draft about Sven staying on the ice after practice to work on things, or even after games. I remember Flames' management praising him for how difficult he was to find a few times at the hotel room - apparently while his other teammates were busy playing video games, Baertschi would be riding the bike.

Not too perplexing imo. We as humans are happy to put in the effort in ways that we want to, and reluctant to do so in ways that we think are "hard" or not so enjoyable. Sven is happy putting in the long hours for aspects like being on a bike or working on his stick-handling after practice because he likely considers those activities fun and/or relaxing.

The real key to getting better at anything is to learn to work hard in areas that you don't think are "fun" or enjoyable. Think Sven was asking coaches to stay after practice and put him through one-on-one board drills to dig at and challenge for the puck? Likely not.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Agreed. How did previous management let it get so far out of hand?

Just goes to show, there is a LOT more to prospects than just developing talent.

I don't think it was a case of letting things get out of hand. They gave him EVERY opportunity. It was the player who chose his own fate.

Given that many people around the NHL (including fans) thought Sven was a real deal, the Flames weren't ready to toss him onto the scrap heap until they were absolutely sure he wouldn't work out here. It was the right move to give him a few chances more than say a "regular" prospect would have got.

[Chonger]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Yeah that works; the Sedins are retiring in the next little while, so there's a clear need to come up with a new sexist nickname for a Vancouver hockey player for when they're gone. Nailed it.

[getbak]

The injury he suffered early in his first year in Abbotsford seemed to be the turning point.

I remember watching a game from before the injury, and he got into a puck battle with a guy who was significantly bigger than him and he just pushed the guy over and took the puck away.

After the injury, he has turned into a player who shies away from the corners and isn't willing to fight back against any adversity. When things are going easy for him (like when he's playing against the Oilers), he still looks good, but if you push him a little, he wilts.

[SuperMatt18]

Yup that concussion scared him away from playing in the dirty areas of the ice.

After that concussion he became strictly a perimeter player. Hurt his offensive production because he wasn't getting to the scoring areas of the ice, and killed his 200ft game completely.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Cindy Crosby

I hadn't heard this one. Thanks, I'll put it in my arsenal for when I am watching a Pens game with my son.

[FBI]

I took Swiss miss to have multi meanings and loved them all.

[foshizzle11]

Just reading some of the comments from Canucks fans. The best one has to be this one:

Would the Flames have dumped a former 11th overall first-rounder for a late second-rounder, not to mention traded him to a division rival, if they really thought there was any chance he'd work out?

This is bang on, the Canucks thought they were getting a steal of a deal obtaining Sven from us. They likely thought we broke him somehow.

I agree with the comments above, that he seemed to have it, seemed to know what he needed to do but once he got to into the NHL for a short while with the Flames, he just lost it. Maybe he thought he made it, he didn't have to do anything different from that point on. Seems strange to think that way, but maybe he just thinks he wasn't given a chance. He hasn't figured out that there will always be guys working hard to catch him and surpass him, do whatever it takes on the ice and he just isn't that guy.

I did like him but after listening to his comments and watching him play in the NHL, he just isn't ready. I don't know what it will take to get him ready to be an NHLer, but I fear it won't happen.

Good for us though since he is the Canucks problem now.

I bet he is traded or waived by the deadline.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Azhouse

I hadn't heard this one. Thanks, I'll put it in my arsenal for when I am watching a Pens game with my son.

No daughters? Misogynist pig.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I don't think it was a case of letting things get out of hand. They gave him EVERY opportunity. It was the player who chose his own fate.

Given that many people around the NHL (including fans) thought Sven was a real deal, the Flames weren't ready to toss him onto the scrap heap until they were absolutely sure he wouldn't work out here. It was the right move to give him a few chances more than say a "regular" prospect would have got.

I'm not sure that it was a matter of him being lazy or choosing his own fate.

It's possible he just did not have the talent to succeed in the NHL. It takes an entirely different set of talents to do so. Just because you're good at certain aspects of hockey does not make you good at all of them. The speed of the NHL is also very intense. I know from my own experience against other new players, I'm quite good and can dominate due to natural speed. As soon as you throw me in with guys who skated as kids, I become one of the worst players on the ice.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Not too perplexing imo. We as humans are happy to put in the effort in ways that we want to, and reluctant to do so in ways that we think are "hard" or not so enjoyable. Sven is happy putting in the long hours for aspects like being on a bike or working on his stick-handling after practice because he likely considers those activities fun and/or relaxing.

The real key to getting better at anything is to learn to work hard in areas that you don't think are "fun" or enjoyable. Think Sven was asking coaches to stay after practice and put him through one-on-one board drills to dig at and challenge for the puck? Likely not.

I don't like doing certain things (working out, pushing myself to the limit physically, etc) because they are hard/not enjoyable. It should be noted that these do not have the potential to earn me millions of dollars. For Sven, doing these things will help him earn millions, potentially. I don't think it's a matter of Sven going "meh, don't feel like it."

I think it's time to just accept that Sven just isn't very good, whether he's working hard or not. Honestly, how can any of us know how hard he works off the ice, he might be one the hardest workers for all we know.

He's just not CAPABLE IMO. He's destined to end up in the prospect graveyard with the likes of Dawes, Boyd, Wahl and Brendl. Work ethic isn't the issue, he's just not talented enough for the top 6 and he's soft and weak so he can't play any other role either.

I bet he carves out a decent career overseas. Maybe he can replace Mathews in Zurich when he comes over next year?

[Max Cow Disease]

Sven was drafted at a time when optimism around the Flames was still incredibly low. We drafted Johnny at the same time but he was obviously nowhere yet, so Sven was this uncharacteristic beacon of offensive hope coming out of the Brent era. This combined with the call up "stint" and the seeming nature of his character (not necessarily bad character), meant this was probably inevitable as he slowly became neighboured in the system by a growing population of promising prospects that gradually surpassed him.

His one scrum stands out to me where he mentioned that he'd love to become the "face of the franchise". Probably a guided and unfair question that led to that answer (I can't recall), but still, not something I see Monny or Johnny saying to the media.

[IgiTang]

Fun rebirth of a thread turned to garbage in a few posts... Good ol over-sensitive CP. GJ guys..

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Was that scrum sometime around when iggy left? Because in my mind there's a difference between stating out of nowhere that you would love to be the face of the franchise as opposed to being asked about iggy leaving and becoming the face of the franchise.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Fun rebirth of a thread turned to garbage in a few posts... Good ol over-sensitive CP. GJ guys..

Guy. One guy. No "s"

[Cali Panthers Fan]

As others have suggested, Sven's concussion really changed the way he played the game. I remember watching him before that thinking "this guy is a can't miss player. It's only a matter of time and an open roster spot for him to be an impact player".

That's why headshots suck. Anyone remember what Derian Hatcher did to Matthew Lombardi? Completely derailed his career. Lombo could have been a solid 2nd line player had he not been concussed so badly. Fear is a terrible thing when you're playing a contact sport.

One also has to wonder how much a head injury plays a factor in something like personality change. I'm not saying that was the case with Sven, but it does make you consider the possibility that a major head trauma can effect motivation, judgement, decision making etc. There are plenty of reports of major depression for players with multiple concussions, but sometimes it only takes one or two to make a significant change.

That's why anytime I see someone like Torres take a shot at someone's head I want to kick them out of the game forever. It's one thing if it's an accident and part of a hockey play, but there are still too many guys that don't consider the long term health of another player and just want to blow them up with a big hit. The culture has to change.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

As others have suggested, Sven's concussion really changed the way he played the game. I remember watching him before that thinking "this guy is a can't miss player. It's only a matter of time and an open roster spot for him to be an impact player".

That's why headshots suck. Anyone remember what Derian Hatcher did to Matthew Lombardi? Completely derailed his career. Lombo could have been a solid 2nd line player had he not been concussed so badly. Fear is a terrible thing when you're playing a contact sport.

Daniel Tzachuk is a guy that had his career completely derailed due to concussions.

Mitch Wahl is another recent one that had a good AHL start, had a great training camp the next year and was a final cut, and then a couple weeks into the season got rocked with a concussion and facial fractures on a bad hit that cost him his season.

Never was the same player, and even struggled at the ECHL level after that.

I always am concerned when a young player gets a serious concussion. For some guys they are just never the same player after that, even if's its just one of their first concussions.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

As others have suggested, Sven's concussion really changed the way he played the game. I remember watching him before that thinking "this guy is a can't miss player. It's only a matter of time and an open roster spot for him to be an impact player".

That's why headshots suck. Anyone remember what Derian Hatcher did to Matthew Lombardi? Completely derailed his career. Lombo could have been a solid 2nd line player had he not been concussed so badly. Fear is a terrible thing when you're playing a contact sport.

One also has to wonder how much a head injury plays a factor in something like personality change. I'm not saying that was the case with Sven, but it does make you consider the possibility that a major head trauma can effect motivation, judgement, decision making etc. There are plenty of reports of major depression for players with multiple concussions, but sometimes it only takes one or two to make a significant change.

That's why anytime I see someone like Torres take a shot at someone's head I want to kick them out of the game forever. It's one thing if it's an accident and part of a hockey play, but there are still too many guys that don't consider the long term health of another player and just want to blow them up with a big hit. The culture has to change.

Derian Hatcher, what a POS.



You are right that culture has to change.

#coolstory time.

This weekend we were at some friends place and her dad was their. He is old time hockey, works for the Flyers.

He went on a rant about he thinks the coach should bring the team in and have them watch boxing/UFC, "too much complaining about a little headache".

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by codynw

More like Sven Bustchi, AM I RITE?!?

Sven Baerly

[Poe969]

concussions suck but they don't have to be "career ending" depending on their severity. Ferland has had a concussion and if anything, it's made him think more IMO. Sven was just a weak player and the concussion made him scared. He didn't look strong or "tough" before and after the injury he's looked useless more often than not. The thing that bugs me the most about him is that he has the skill but he doesn't think he has to work at it to keep it up, he should fit right in with the nucks organization.