Sven "Fricken" Bartschi!

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I can't wait to start him on the third line so he can work on his defensive game

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

After racking up the points this year there won't be much left for him to doin the whl so he's going to be a flame next year.

Why wouldn't he be in the AHL next year? He'll be 20 in early Oct. so he should qualify.

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I can't wait to start him on the third line so he can work on his defensive game

We need offense!

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

goal and assist tonight from Sven surpassing his point total from last year playing 22 less games. Holy cow is he racking up the points.

What I'm really impressed by, is the fact his is bring it against a very good Kamloops Blazers team- who sit in 3rd overall in the WHL.

Two thumbs up for Sven Bartschi!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Why wouldn't he be in the AHL next year? He'll be 20 in early Oct. so he should qualify.

He'll be in the NHL.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by getbak

He'll be in the NHL.

Maybe. But there is another option between WHL or NHL (the leagues that PeteLFan mentioned). Frankly, I think it may do him some good to spend some time in Abbotsford. Ease the transition between playing against boys and playing against men. Ultimately if he earns a spot then he earns a spot and if he still needs seasoning then the AHL is available.

[Chris Biotti]

Just got back from the Rose Garden, watching Portland beat Kamloops.

I never post but I figured to throw in my two cents on Bartschi from what I saw of him tonight. It looks as if he has a ton of talent: fast, soft hands, easily outplaying Kamloops smaller d-men, and great hockey sense. Also, Sven always seems to be in the right place at the right time -- his goal would attest to that. His centre, Noebells (sp?) stripped the puck from a Kamloops dman behind the net and threw it out front where Sven was waiting to snipe it home to the low corner. His assists were nothing to write home about -- he fed a pass to Morrow along the point for a 4-3 pp goal and he got an effortless second assist on Noebells goal late in the third.

Kamloops has a couple dmen with decent size, Tyler Hansen and Tyler Bell who worked Sven over pretty easily. Sven definitely shied away from any contact throughout the game and turned the puck over in the corner at least once rather than take a hit. He really seemed to have a hard time physically.

I know it's only one game but I came away tonight thinking Sven is rather soft. Portland has an incredible team and is well coached. Their dmen, specifically Morrow and Pouliot stood out with tenacity and a bit of offensive flair. Wotherspoon was unspectacular (besides his rather large frame) and didn't make any mistakes.

I know it's only one game, but I can't see Sven making an impact at the NHL level. I just can't see him playing against NHL dmen yet. (FWIW Rattie didn't standout either, though he walked away with a 2A night). Sven has talent but looked pillowy soft.

[Stampede2TheCup]

Originally Posted by Chris Biotti

Just got back from the Rose Garden, watching Portland beat Kamloops.

I never post but I figured to throw in my two cents on Bartschi from what I saw of him tonight. It looks as if he has a ton of talent: fast, soft hands, easily outplaying Kamloops smaller d-men, and great hockey sense. Also, Sven always seems to be in the right place at the right time -- his goal would attest to that. His centre, Noebells (sp?) stripped the puck from a Kamloops dman behind the net and threw it out front where Sven was waiting to snipe it home to the low corner. His assists were nothing to write home about -- he fed a pass to Morrow along the point for a 4-3 pp goal and he got an effortless second assist on Noebells goal late in the third.

Kamloops has a couple dmen with decent size, Tyler Hansen and Tyler Bell who worked Sven over pretty easily. Sven definitely shied away from any contact throughout the game and turned the puck over in the corner at least once rather than take a hit. He really seemed to have a hard time physically.

I know it's only one game but I came away tonight thinking Sven is rather soft. Portland has an incredible team and is well coached. Their dmen, specifically Morrow and Pouliot stood out with tenacity and a bit of offensive flair. Wotherspoon was unspectacular (besides his rather large frame) and didn't make any mistakes.

I know it's only one game, but I can't see Sven making an impact at the NHL level. I just can't see him playing against NHL dmen yet. (FWIW Rattie didn't standout either, though he walked away with a 2A night). Sven has talent but looked pillowy soft.

I'm not into rushing him at all if he's not ready, but quite a few young forwards are soft when they make the NHL. There's the offseason for him to work on bulking up a bit and there's nothing to say he can't contribute right away in the NHL as long as his strengths outweigh his weaknesses and the team feels it's fine for his development. Remember, Feaster and Conroy said he made it a really hard decision to send him down instead of keeping him up here to start this season.

[Stampede2TheCup]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Poor guy is going to be coming into a horrible environment, and have tremendous pressure on him.

I sure hope he doesn't get ruined by this group of poison players and coaches. There will be unrealistic expectations from fans and feaster already pumping him up as a sure thing next year.

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Didn't say a single negative thing about the guy, not sure how I'm a Debbie downer.

There will be a lot of pressure on Hinton preform right away, he is our only legit top line prospect. After racking up the points this year there won't be much left for him to doin the whl so he's going to be a flame next year.

The whole post is pretty negative, just not about Sven. Your concern about pressure is valid IMO, but the post still does sound quite negative.

[MyFlamesFirst]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

goal and assist tonight from Sven surpassing his point total from last year playing 22 less games. Holy cow is he racking up the points.

Refreshing to see some skill.

I liked the goal he scored. Yes he was wide open and had lots of time but he picked his spot. Natural goal scoring ability. 90% of the flames right now would probably shoot that puck wide. And Comeau would shoot it 6-feet wide.Anyhow here's the highlights for those interested:

http://winterhawks.com/video/index/i...2bbe7ac2e0a1a2

[MyFlamesFirst]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I can't wait to start him on the third line so he can work on his defensive game

Hate to be the debbie downer but have to agree he is not very good defensively. Lets just say Jarome Iginla back-checks harder then him. If you watch highlights usually he is the last guy back and can be caught occasionally cheating in the D-zone in favor of offense. I also noticed this when he was in Calgary for the world juniors. He is a plus 12 right now but hes averaging around a plus 9. He often will put up 1-4 points a game but be on the ice for around 2 goals against. That being said he has tremendous work ethic and nothing we can't teach. Hope to see him on that third line soon!

[Frequitude]

If Feaster's beefed up scouting department and statistical analysis (moneypuck?) can keep drafting like this, I'm all for the "just make the playoffs and try to go on a run" strategy.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Chris Biotti

Just got back from the Rose Garden, watching Portland beat Kamloops.

I never post but I figured to throw in my two cents on Bartschi from what I saw of him tonight. It looks as if he has a ton of talent: fast, soft hands, easily outplaying Kamloops smaller d-men, and great hockey sense. Also, Sven always seems to be in the right place at the right time -- his goal would attest to that. His centre, Noebells (sp?) stripped the puck from a Kamloops dman behind the net and threw it out front where Sven was waiting to snipe it home to the low corner. His assists were nothing to write home about -- he fed a pass to Morrow along the point for a 4-3 pp goal and he got an effortless second assist on Noebells goal late in the third.

Kamloops has a couple dmen with decent size, Tyler Hansen and Tyler Bell who worked Sven over pretty easily. Sven definitely shied away from any contact throughout the game and turned the puck over in the corner at least once rather than take a hit. He really seemed to have a hard time physically.

I know it's only one game but I came away tonight thinking Sven is rather soft. Portland has an incredible team and is well coached. Their dmen, specifically Morrow and Pouliot stood out with tenacity and a bit of offensive flair. Wotherspoon was unspectacular (besides his rather large frame) and didn't make any mistakes.

I know it's only one game, but I can't see Sven making an impact at the NHL level. I just can't see him playing against NHL dmen yet. (FWIW Rattie didn't standout either, though he walked away with a 2A night). Sven has talent but looked pillowy soft.

The Nuge (I hate that name btw) has the frame of a teenage girl and he is having a pretty big impact this year. I know they are obviously completely different as RNH went first overall for a reason, but soft small players can succeed in the NHL and he still has years to bulk up and become stronger, he's only 19.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Miniac

We need offense!

I didn't think I needed to use green text for that comment but I guess I did. I made that comment because thats how this team is coached. Right now I think Baertschi would be a top 6 forward on this team, right now, not next year. Whenever we seem to get a younger player with offensive skills (like we thought Backlund had) he's put on the third line. I say we give this kid a chance to show that he's an offensive player and can play in the NHL.

Originally Posted by MyFlamesFirst

Hate to be the debbie downer but have to agree he is not very good defensively. Lets just say Jarome Iginla back-checks harder then him. If you watch highlights usually he is the last guy back and can be caught occasionally cheating in the D-zone in favor of offense. I also noticed this when he was in Calgary for the world juniors. He is a plus 12 right now but hes averaging around a plus 9. He often will put up 1-4 points a game but be on the ice for around 2 goals against. That being said he has tremendous work ethic and nothing we can't teach. Hope to see him on that third line soon!

Thats good in my eyes. If he turns out to be a 100 point player in the NHL, I don't care if he's back checking or blocking shots, hell I don't want him to block shots and get hurt. This team needs an offensive punch in the arm and if he can come in and dominate offensively then you let him and you have guys play with him who'll do the dirty work

[Ashasx]

The NHL is made for players like Bartschi nowadays. The days of the power forward are gone. Smaller, skilled players are only going to have more of an impact as the years go on.

RNH, Kane, Giroux, they haven't thrown a hit in their careers.

[JiriHrdina]

Sven is listed as the 15th best prospect in THN's Future Watch.

The top 20 looks like this:
1. Evgeny Kuznetsov
2. Mikael Granlund
3. Jonathan Huberdeau
4. Dougie Hamilton
5. Mika Zibanejad
6. Vladimir Tarasenko
7. Mark Scheifele
8. Jacob Markstrom
9. Ryan Strome
10. Brandon Gormley
11. Ryan Ellis
12. Jonas Brodin
13. Zack Kassian
14. Charlie Coyle
15. Sven Baertschi
16. Brendan Smith
17. Tim Erixon
18. Joe Colborne
19. Nick Bjugstad
20. Robin Lehner

Frankly I think I would have him in the top 10 but whatever.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by ashasx

the nhl is made for players like bartschi nowadays. The days of the power forward are gone. Smaller, skilled players are only going to have more of an impact as the years go on.

Rnh, kane, giroux, they haven't thrown a hit in their careers.

h-y-p-e-r-b-o-l-e

[FlamesAddiction]

I actually don't have a problem with players avoiding hits as long as they aren't throwing the puck away to do so. Take a player like Huselius who used his puck handling and skating to avoid getting hit. Can the Flames develop a player like that though? I guess it will depend on who we have coaching, but our track record is not good. I think part of Bartschi's THN ranking has being a Flames prospect factored into it.

[Poe969]

Now imagine if we could get one or two others from that top 20 list. If we were to make some major changes to the team (Kipper, Iggy, JayBow) then I think a couple of these guys could be had. The time for change is now, a "young guns" today wouldn't be bad because as mentioned the game is going that direction. I'd love to get a good young team for once.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Frankly I think I would have him in the top 10 but whatever.

I dunno, there's a lot of quality in that list... which 5 guys would you bump out to get him to 10?