[News] Swiss Olympic Team - Berra (No Sven)

[Fire]

Not surprised Sven isn't there. They probably wanted to go with a more veteran group. I'm guessing mostly the same players that did well in the World Championships.

[nik-]

I feel so bad for Sven for missing out on that World Championships team last year.

[tvp2003]

Hope Berra can claim the #2 spot; if so, he should see some action as the Swiss won't be in contention for a medal.

[Stay Golden]

How the mighty Sven has fallen. Getting passed in by a NHL lacking Swiss team has to be bitter for him.
Still very young but he has to prove not just to the Flames but to himself he is much better than he played this season.

[Huntingwhale]

I don't feel bad for Sven. He hasn't earned his spot at all. And even though most of us know nothing about the most of the other forwards, I'm sure the Swiss hockey management has a much better idea.

Besides, the Swiss are never an overlay skilled group. They try and play a stifling style of defence, and they are actually quite successful at it. Sven just isn't a defensive player yet and I don't think he would fit on their team at all.

Every year I always root for them. I would absolutely love to see them win a bronze.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

I don't feel bad for Sven. He hasn't earned his spot at all. And even though most of us know nothing about the most of the other forwards, I'm sure the Swiss hockey management has a much better idea.

Besides, the Swiss are never an overlay skilled group. They try and play a stifling style of defence, and they are actually quite successful at it. Sven just isn't a defensive player yet and I don't think he would fit on their team at all.

Every year I always root for them. I would absolutely love to see them win a bronze.

year after year they are probably the hardest working squads in these international tournaments.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

year after year they are probably the hardest working squads in these international tournaments.

Doubly too bad for Sven then. He could have greatly benefitted from playing on a team like that, with an emphasis on defence.

[MissTeeks]

There was a small bit on Sven on the Flames site today:

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=699155

After making the Flames roster out of training camp, the young Swiss winger now finds himself in a Heat uniform - something he admittedly didn't want to see happen.
"That's something as a pro athlete you've got to deal with," Baertschi told the media. "There's ups and downs in sports. The last thing I really wanted this year was to be back here playing for the Heat again, but it's the way it worked out. The main thing is you've just got to try and stay positive. Sometimes it's not easy, but I think you've got to battle through it. Grind through it."

"He's dealt with it real well. He's a good pro. He's a good man and he's got a great heart. He's a good teammate. He's a joy to coach. I think he's handled it well. How he handles it on his own - that's something different. That's all about maturity. That's why you play in the American Hockey League - it's to grow up as much off the ice as you do on the ice. With that part, he's going through the process like any player would."

"Being me and being direct, he's behind everybody else. He's behind. He's played a different game. You come down to the American league and it's a little more of a rat race. It's not chess. It's simpler up there. It's just a simpler, easier game.
"So in some ways he's behind some of our guys. He just hasn't played the minutes we're giving him. He's trying to get all that back into form again. That's going to take some time. I've been happy with him. I'm not disappointed, I just think he's behind in development than some of these other guys. Some guys get their eyes and have been making more plays than Sven right now, but he's also got to understand, and we all understand within the organization, we're trying to develop a hockey player. If he can become part of our winning formula in certain games and get some points, then that's a bonus. But in general, we're trying to make him a better hockey player and help his game. I think he's coming along."

[T@T]

There's zero chance Sven isn't a better player than half of that roster.

I didn't know Hartley was part of the swiss olympic committee, it's like a damn witch hunt for Sven's confidence.

[moon]

He may be a better individual player than many of those guys and certainly has more natural skill than many of them but it is debatable whether he is a better fit for the Swiss team and the style of game they want to play.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by moon

He may be a better individual player than many of those guys and certainly has more natural skill than many of them but it is debatable whether he is a better fit for the Swiss team and the style of game they want to play.

Do they think they can hold the powerhouse teams to 0 or 1 goals a game in hopes of winning 1-0 or 2-1? Sorry a team like the swiss should bring their best players and hope to get lucky and finish in the top 6.

2 years ago Sven was the most cheered player in Switzerland, even bypassing Niederreiter and Hiller in popularity, In 3 months he's lost all confidence due to twin kicks in the nuts from bigmouth Burke and mister favoritism Hartley.

[moon]

I think they have seen that playing a responsible trap style game is what can keep them close and they want guys who are able to play responsible hockey and know their roles on the team.

Sven has a ton of natural talent but as of right now isn't likely ahead of a lot of those European guys who have 5-10 years of professional hockey when it comes to a short 5 games tournament.

Teams like Switzerland aren't winning games by going head to head with the powerhouses and 2-1 or 3-2 on PP and counter attack goals are likely the only chance they have. They also aren't winning with guys who are the most cheered player.

[CaptainCrunch]

So with Berra and Smid being the only Olympians in the Flames room, do they walk in with the Olympic theme playing wrapped in their national flags looking arrogantly down at the other more average not olympic players?

Cause that would be awesome.

[Skaloper]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

So with Berra and Smid being the only Olympians in the Flames room, do they walk in with the Olympic theme playing wrapped in their national flags looking arrogantly down at the other more average not olympic players?

Cause that would be awesome.

I still have hope for Giordano.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

So with Berra and Smid being the only Olympians in the Flames room, do they walk in with the Olympic theme playing wrapped in their national flags looking arrogantly down at the other more average not olympic players?

Cause that would be awesome.

pretty sad that that is all we have

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Skaloper

I still have hope for Giordano.

I would say no chance, if he wouldn't have gotten injured and had played at this level through the whole season then he would have been in the discussion.

On top of that Gio isn't a name with hype.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by T@T

Do they think they can hold the powerhouse teams to 0 or 1 goals a game in hopes of winning 1-0 or 2-1? Sorry a team like the swiss should bring their best players and hope to get lucky and finish in the top 6.

Well that is what they are going to try and do. The only way for a team like them to win is to try and grind out a defensive style game and limit the oppositions goals.

Trying to get lucky against the powerhouse teams is a terrible strategy. They reason they have been fairly successful is because their entire team commits to a strong hard working defensive game.

IMO it's no different then what the Americans are doing. They left off a bunch of highly touted offensive players for more 2-way players in the hopes of limiting the oppositions goal totals and grinding out a win. Burke even said in 2010 that they chose their team based on who they thought could limit Canada's offensive power. No one is going to beat us in a fire wagon offensive game. But my #1 fear is another team stifling us then grinding out a 2-1 win. I could totally see the Swiss doing that.

[PeteLFan]

@SUNRandySportak: #Flames hopeful Baertschi on not being named to Swiss team: "My job now is to prove a lot of people wrong."
@SUNRandySportak: More Baertschi: "I hope not, but I think there's people out there that have maybe given up on me already."

[Ashasx]

[nik-]

Sometimes the hardass approach doesn't work with every player. Sven obviously takes things to heart. I still see him as our Hossa in the future, third forward on the totem pole, but still a big piece.