[News] Flames scratch Sven...again

[NewFan]

Meh, "watch and learn"? Personally I prefer to try and do myself rather then just watch to learn something.

[heep223]

Eric Francis ‏@EricFrancis 1m The Baertschi Benching thing is getting a little ridiculous when Tim Jackman is slotted on the 2nd line w Monahan and Hudler. #setuptofail

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Wes Gilbertson‏@SUNGilbertson3m
#Flames Sven Baertschi: "You want to help the team win. When you're not out there, you just sit around and watch the game. It sucks."

Wes Gilbertson‏@SUNGilbertson2m

#Flames LW Sven Baertschi, a healthy scratch again tonight, said he really appreciates support he's received from teammates and fans.

Wes Gilbertson‏@SUNGilbertson4m

#Flames LW Sven Baertschi: “It's nice when you turn on Twitter and you've got a lot of people that tell you to keep your head up.”

Wes Gilbertson‏@SUNGilbertson2m

More from Baertschi on fan support: “They're there for you and they want to help you in good and bad times. I really appreciate that.”

I think one of Sven's issues is he reads his own clippings. It would probably help if he ignored the media, his twitter account, and sites like this.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It's really just not that one little quote, it is a culmination of things over the last year and it worries me that he has a sense of entitlement building and that he cannot see that he is accountable for what is happening.

My concerns started with his reaction to being sent down last season.

It grew with him not being happy with having to attend development and rookie camp.

And now I am not overly fond of how he seems to be handling his benching.

Okay, that makes sense. I did get the impression that the team was worried about him feeling entitled in the preseason.

However, it doesn't really matter whether he's the perfect politician and says all the right things or responds to questions by simply saying that it sucks. Actions matter. I wouldn't be impressed if he played the part of the humble youngster, all bright-eyed and eager to learn, and I'm not worried that he's saying that he's upset.

[ComixZone]

To the people saying "calm down" and "don't be silly, you're overreacting"

Does benching Sven help the Calgary Flames today? No.
Does benching Sven help the Calgary Flames tomorrow? No.
Does benching Sven help Sven Baertschi today? No.
Does benching Sven help Sven Baertschi tomorrow? No.

Does coach Hartley nondescriptly saying "Sven needs to find a way into the lineup" help Sven Baertschi or the Calgary Flames today or tomorrow? No. Coach Hartley should be working day and night with Sven to help him become the player everyone knows he can be - not sitting back and putting the onus 100% on the player.

Players don't magically become better by not playing. That's not how it works.

Yeah, it pisses me off. We support a cash-rich team that is spending the 4th least amount of money on player salaries. We, the fans who support the team - were sold on this strategy because we'd get young players working with coaches to build a "better tomorrow". Not Tim !@#$ing Jackman, and Brian McGrattan.

If Hartley is deadset on playing Jackman over Baertschi - or Galiardi over Baertschi, or whomever - then Sven should be in the AHL. Sitting in the pressbox is a waste, and it's not a good way to build a relationship between player/organization.

[flamesfever]

What must the younger players on the other teams be thinking?

I know...try not to end up in Calgary.

[Phanuthier]

Everyone knows its so he can watch hockey games. You know, for learnings. Proven success for the Flames. Sit in the press box and watch.

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by fotze

You mean a 21 yr old with English as a second (or perhaps third/fourth) language isn't infinitely articulate?

I agree 100% with what you are saying. Hell, it has to be one of the worst languages out there even if you grew up with it.

Love the honesty in the second quote though, and I hope as Hartley wants, "Sven needs to find a way to get back into the line up,"

Sven's 2nd quote is a better start than his first one.

You are absolutely dead on though English is really very hard and we shouldn't read too much into it. This also goes for Hartley as well though who's first language sounds to be French Canadian.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Some of the reactions are kinda funny.

Sven is still really young and it's no surprise or any great drama that he is struggling. He should be in Abby not the nhl based on play this year. Yet the flames are keeping him around and working with him. So far he's done nothing to reward their efforts, but poor Sven is persecuted and meanie Hartley is the villain?

If fans want to be pissed off, be pissed off that Sven is taking a spot that players like granlund, Reinhart (until now) and knight have done a hell of a lot more to earn. Would one of them be beating out jackman for a spot? Maybe.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

To the people saying "calm down" and "don't be silly, you're overreacting"

Does benching Sven help the Calgary Flames today? No.
Does benching Sven help the Calgary Flames tomorrow? No.
Does benching Sven help Sven Baertschi today? No.
Does benching Sven help Sven Baertschi tomorrow? No.

Does coach Hartley nondescriptly saying "Sven needs to find a way into the lineup" help Sven Baertschi or the Calgary Flames today or tomorrow? No. Coach Hartley should be working day and night with Sven to help him become the player everyone knows he can be - not sitting back and putting the onus 100% on the player.

Players don't magically become better by not playing. That's not how it works.

I suppose the repeated benching of stamkos his first and second year was a bad idea as well? Because he was irreversibly ruined.

[Fire in the disco]

Ok Hartley, you made your point with the original benching. Sitting Sven twice in a row is overkill. Let the kid show you what he can do now. I have a feeling this is Hartley having a pissing match at this point, as he already called Sven out in the media while praising Jackman and McGratton at the same time. Now he plays both of them again, when most would agree that barring injuries only one of the 2 of them should be playing in each game.

I'm no NHL coach, but I know that sitting Baertschi twice in a row while he is healthy is counter productive to our rebuild/youth movement.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

To the people saying "calm down" and "don't be silly, you're overreacting"

Does benching Sven help the Calgary Flames today? No.
Does benching Sven help the Calgary Flames tomorrow? No.
Does benching Sven help Sven Baertschi today? No.
Does benching Sven help Sven Baertschi tomorrow? No.

Does coach Hartley nondescriptly saying "Sven needs to find a way into the lineup" help Sven Baertschi or the Calgary Flames today or tomorrow? No. Coach Hartley should be working day and night with Sven to help him become the player everyone knows he can be - not sitting back and putting the onus 100% on the player.

Players don't magically become better by not playing. That's not how it works.

Nice post, except 3 out of the 4 questions you answered for yourslef aren't the slam dunk answers you are pretending they are.

And last statement, while obviously over dramatic for effect, is not a fact either.

Forgive me if I take Hartley, Gelinas, Cloutier....heck even Feaster's and Burke's opinion on what Sven needs over yours.

Sucks we don't get to see Sven play, and it's even fine to question, but these blanket sky is falling statements that suggest the Flames are hurting Sven like it's a fact are rediculous. They deal with the guy day in and day out, they likely have a better handle on what he needs and what his problems are then then us fan boys on the site who just want to him to play so we can show Oilers and Nucks fans that things are looking up in Flamesville.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

I suppose the repeated benching of stamkos his first and second year was a bad idea as well? Because he was irreversibly ruined.

I don't agree with the comparison. Stamkos was a 1st overall and has a skillset that is undeniable. Sven is a 13th overall project.

Tampa Bay management at the time was also an absolute disaster. They almost dealt Stamkos to the New York Rangers for a pile of beans.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

I suppose the repeated benching of stamkos his first and second year was a bad idea as well? Because he was irreversibly ruined.

It resulted in the firing of said coach and the breakout of a star player once he got in full time. An argument could be made that the benching helped him, but it also could be made that it was holding him back. Only Stamkos really knows.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Does coach Hartley nondescriptly saying "Sven needs to find a way into the lineup" help Sven Baertschi or the Calgary Flames today or tomorrow? No. Coach Hartley should be working day and night with Sven to help him become the player everyone knows he can be - not sitting back and putting the onus 100% on the player.

We are just going to ignore the previous reports that Hartley and the coaching staff have been spending extra time with Sven after practice?

Or the fact that Sven's success last season came when Hartley was creating daily working plans for Sven.

The onus is on the player and coach in this situation. Hartley needs to ensure that he is working with Sven and telling Sven what is expected of him and Sven needs to hold himself accountable and take what the coaches are saying into consideration.

We don't have enough insight into the locker room to see what side of that equation is not working out right now but I really hope both parties understand they are equally accountable for what is going on.

Because if you read CP right now this is 100% Bob Hartley's fault and Sven Baertschi is being punished for being small and Swiss.

[bluloc]

Give Hartley the benefit of the doubt, He is an NHL coach after all. Maybe this lights a fire under Svens ass.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Nice post, except 3 out of the 4 questions you answered for yourslef aren't the slam dunk answers you are pretending they are.

And last statement, while obviously over dramatic for effect, is not a fact either.

Forgive me if I take Hartley, Gelinas, Cloutier....heck even Feaster's and Burke's opinion on what Sven needs over yours.

Sucks we don't get to see Sven play, and it's even fine to question, but these blanket sky is falling statements that suggest the Flames are hurting Sven like it's a fact are rediculous. They deal with the guy day in and day out, they likely have a better handle on what he needs and what his problems are then then us fan boys on the site who just want to him to play so we can show Oilers and Nucks fans that things are looking up in Flamesville.

It's not even about hurting Sven - because you're right, it's not a science. Even if you look at it simply as meritocracy/playing who deserves to play angle, it makes no sense to me.

Jackman and McGrattan have done absolutely nothing to earn their playtime. If you disagree with that, well...fine I guess, we see things differently.

I don't even think Sven has been great or even good at times - but he's done more to help the team, and can do more to help the team than Jackman and McGrattan can/have.

[FBI]

Not sure why I'm so angry about this but I'm pretty pissed.. Must be because my mindset for this year is to have fun watching the young guys play in a REBUILD ??

[stemit14]

I just hope baertschi gets rewarded when he does get back into the line up. He's a hard worker who hasn't had much luck with the puck lately. It's even worse when jackman is a right winger who doesn't score and he is taking sven's spot at left wing on a line that is depended on to produce offense.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Does benching Sven help the Calgary Flames today? Yes
Does benching Sven help the Calgary Flames tomorrow? Yes
Does benching Sven help Sven Baertschi today? Yes
Does benching Sven help Sven Baertschi tomorrow? Yes

fyp