...And Baertschi Too!

[PeteLFan]

He's been competing hard all over the ice pressuring d-men in the defensive zone, and coming back hard.

Skill with a 2 way game and hard work is a lethal combination that leads to a winning team and top player, and Sven can be that.

[puckluck2]

Sven has always back checked. Not sure where this idea that Burke is responsible for his game to change in the defensive zone. He wasn't nicknamed the mini Hossa for no reason. His on ice awareness in the defensive zone has always been a strong point.

I flat out disagreed with the assessment of Burke. Sven needed to get better but he made it seem like Sven was terrible in the defensive zone when his whole NHL and junior career that hasn't been true.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Burke made it seem like Sven wasn't playing hard in the defensive zone. I'm not sure where the the obsession came from that Burke or any of the Flames brass were saying he wasn't a good all around player""...........seemed clear to me they were asking him to bust his ass all over the ice like he did in his call up a couple of years back.

Whether Burke's call out impacted Sven or he simply decided he'd turn it up in the real season, I couldn't care less. I've been so impressed with Sven's work ethic on the ice and what a complete player he is, very exciting to see.

[Tinordi]

Burke basically signaled to Sven what the expectations were of this season. The organization doesn't consider him to be a rookie anymore and isn't going to allow him alot of a slack because of which. Burke challenged Sven to be an NHL player, to be a complete player. Burke knows damn well that Sven has the talent to be an NHL regular, has the hockey IQ to be one and he challenged him to demonstrate it.

Sven responded.

[getbak]

Monahan and Stempniak/Jones are a lot better line mates than the players Sven was lined up with for most of the preseason too.

There were some plays in the preseason where Sven set up his line mate with a nice pass and the play died on the other guy's stick. If it had been Monahan getting those passes, they probably would have ended up in the back of the net.

[Miniac]

Monahan and Baertschi are setting the expectations very high for the upcoming prospects. Its really good to see and its very exciting.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Burke made it seem like Sven wasn't playing hard in the defensive zone. I'm not sure where the the obsession came from that Burke or any of the Flames brass were saying he wasn't a good all around player""...........seemed clear to me they were asking him to bust his ass all over the ice like he did in his call up a couple of years back.

Whether Burke's call out impacted Sven or he simply decided he'd turn it up in the real season, I couldn't care less. I've been so impressed with Sven's work ethic on the ice and what a complete player he is, very exciting to see.

He's no Backlund, but he's getting there.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Burke basically signaled to Sven what the expectations were of this season. The organization doesn't consider him to be a rookie anymore and isn't going to allow him alot of a slack because of which. Burke challenged Sven to be an NHL player, to be a complete player. Burke knows damn well that Sven has the talent to be an NHL regular, has the hockey IQ to be one and he challenged him to demonstrate it.

Sven responded.

What about his prior 7 NHL games in the NHL where he recorded at least a point in each one and was playing like he is now? Did Burke motivate him those games as well?

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

What about his prior 7 NHL games in the NHL where he recorded at least a point in each one and was playing like he is now? Did Burke motivate him those games as well?

My memory of his play last season must be different than yours. I saw a kid that yes got points, but looked largely ineffective and over his head. Last season he was a step behind and was a waif in two zones on the ice. Not anymore. He looks like a completely different player to me early in this season. He looks like an NHL player.

[SeanCharles]

Love the Flames future, next season I could see:

Baertschi-Monahan-Huder
Gaudreau-Backlund-Jones
Glencross-Galiardi-Stempniak
Bouma-Colborne-McGrattan
Horak, Ferland, Reinhart, Granlund, Knight, Jooris, Poirier and Street will fight for jobs too. Gaudreau may also start in the AHL.

Brodie-Giordano
Wotherspoon-Wideman
Sieloff-Russell
Breen-Cundari
O'Brien may still be around too.

Ramo
Berra

[TheDebaser]

Wow, does no one remember that at the time Sven was playing like an oiler in the preseason? And that tons of other fans had the exact same concerns? Yall have short memories.

[Imported_Aussie]

Both playing well on a winning team, and I think credit does need to go to Baertschi for playing hard. I want to see how they (Baertschi and Monahan) respond to adversity, such as a long road trip, or games against bigger lines (San Jose, Anaheim). Now they are playing well, they won't fly under the radar. They respond positively to that challenge, then we can be even more excited. If not, we just need to be patient as fans - this fanbase can go from adulation to animosity in a heartbeat

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Love the Flames future, next season I could see:

Baertschi-Monahan-Huder
Gaudreau-Backlund-Jones
Glencross-Galiardi-Stempniak
Bouma-Colborne-McGrattan
Horak, Ferland, Reinhart, Granlund, Knight, Jooris, Poirier and Street will fight for jobs too. Gaudreau may also start in the AHL.

Brodie-Giordano
Wotherspoon-Wideman
Sieloff-Russell
Breen-Cundari
O'Brien may still be around too.

Ramo
Berra

You forgot Butler. God forbid HE not make the roster.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Love the Flames future, next season I could see:

Baertschi-Monahan-Huder
Gaudreau-Backlund-Jones
Glencross-Galiardi-Stempniak
Bouma-Colborne-McGrattan
Horak, Ferland, Reinhart, Granlund, Knight, Jooris, Poirier and Street will fight for jobs too. Gaudreau may also start in the AHL.

Brodie-Giordano
Wotherspoon-Wideman
Sieloff-Russell
Breen-Cundari
O'Brien may still be around too.

Ramo
Berra

Imagine if we keep Cammalleri

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by Split98

Imagine if we keep Cammalleri

Why?

If Gaudreau is ready there's no room for him

Besides, when's the last time Cammi played well...seriously?

Am I the only one thinking he's already 3 years removed from being a Top 6 NHLer?

I just don't see how he has a role on a decent hockey team any more...sad to say as I really quite like him.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

Why?

If Gaudreau is ready there's no room for him

Besides, when's the last time Cammi played well...seriously?

Am I the only one thinking he's already 3 years removed from being a Top 6 NHLer?

I just don't see how he has a role on a decent hockey team any more...sad to say as I really quite like him.

A good point for sure. Honestly, looking at that lineup it is still a bit of a mess (a great mess to have). Gaudreau being ready will seriously throw a wrench into the mix. Add Horak (who may establish himself as a full NHLer this year) to the mix and I really don't know where Galiardi fits in either.

I guess I just want Cammy on the team thinking back to old Cammy. I just love the idea of Monahan-Baertschi cycling Cammy, Stempy, and Jones through their RW on a situational basis. All 3 wingers play very different games, and really really add versatility to the top line. Probably not the best use for Cammy, but I love the idea of it.

[stemit14]

I think it helps both baertschi and Monahan to share the load the same way Toews and Kane learned to share the pressure. It's not one player who has to do it all. Plus they aren't being hurled into a situation where they are being given the keys to the city like they did in Edmonton.

Every spot on this roster is being earned and not given. And it's going to be like this for years to come judging by how the prospect pool is developing. Gaudreau will have to earn a spot next year cause it won't he just given to him. Same thing with poirier, klimchuk, granlund, Horak, jankowski, hanowski, etc. depth at multiple positions will help make this a team full of players who outwork others in order to play. For example, next year klimchuk, gaudreau, and granlund will all be fighting for one spot as the 2nd/3rd left winger. Each of them are at different stages of development but it will be the kid who earns that spot who gets to play. Same way that Monahan has earned his spot. Meanwhile, yakupov is sitting in the press box for Edmonton refusing to change his game for the coach.

[Da_Chief]

What do ppl think of Hanowski as the future RWer on Sven and Monahan's line? Big body whos progressing rapidly. (Partially posting in this thread so Sven's thread doesn't fall to pg 2)

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

What do ppl think of Hanowski as the future RWer on Sven and Monahan's line? Big body whos progressing rapidly. (Partially posting in this thread so Sven's thread doesn't fall to pg 2)

Hopefully Poirier as the grit on their line. Hanowski is too slow, Sven and Monahan don't need an anchor.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

What do ppl think of Hanowski as the future RWer on Sven and Monahan's line? Big body whos progressing rapidly. (Partially posting in this thread so Sven's thread doesn't fall to pg 2)

He seems pretty offensive for that line. He's got good size, but I'm not sure that he's known for his physical intensity or his north-south game, which I think that line needs at least a bit of. If however Monahan develops into a sound defensive player than that line could be really dangerous.