BAERTSCHI’S BEST MOVE
As NHL trade-deadline day arrives, Canucks winger looks back fondly on his request that the Calgary Flames deal him away
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sven Baertschi’s boldest career move came off the ice.
It wasn’t that the Vancouver Canucks winger was acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames nearly three years ago, it’s the fact he asked to be dealt.
At age 22, that took some stones because Baertschi had no control over his destination. He could have been thrown an anvil instead of a life preserver.
It proved to be the latter because he was reunited with his former junior coach Travis Green, who turned the winger from a project with the Utica Comets into a bona fide NHL player.
“It wasn’t a good fit back then in Calgary and I got the call after the trade deadline, but it was an interesting concept,” Baertschi said Sunday. “Obviously, it’s different for me now personally and I want to stay here as long as I can.
“You just don’t know if it’s going to be better for you or not and it was a bit of gamble. Obviously, it was nerve-racking, but maybe Travis had something to do with it — or a lot of it — and going back to him and being in Utica with him was the best thing for me.”
Baertschi got his game together in Utica when the Comets advanced to the 2015 Calder Cup final. He had seven goals in 15 American Hockey League games after the trade and then eight in 21 playoff games. He had 14 goals in his first 49 games this season as a pending restricted free agent and has 20-goal capability.
Baertschi was Green’s first scratch of a veteran when the winger sat out in San Jose Feb. 15. It sent a message and Baertschi responded with goals in two of his next three games.
“I was able to play good right away and that’s a good sign,” said Baertschi. “Sometimes he (Green) is harder on certain guys, but that’s a good thing. That’s how I always felt about him. When he cares and sees potential, he’ll even chase you at practice. That’s how he is and that’s usually a good sign.”
Baertschi was an early season fixture with Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. They combined for 11 points in a 4-2 home win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Nov. 4. Boeser then struck for two goals in a road triumph against the Stanley Cup champions Nov. 22. However, Baertschi would be moved up and down the lineup because of indifferent play and his ability to adapt with others.
On Friday in Las Vegas, he combined with Sam Gagner and Jake Virtanen to form the most effective trio in a 6-3 loss to the Golden Knights.
“You’ve got to adjust a little bit, but you don’t want to change your game too much,” said Baertschi. “Because I’ve been able to play with just about everybody on our team, that helps big time. I understand Gags (Gagner) and I know what Jake (Virtanen) is all about and it’s easier to make those adjustments.”
And making them with nothing but pride to play for in another season without a playoff berth isn’t easy.
“You’re not going to win with guys who don’t care as much,” said Baertschi. “It’s the biggest thing for us. Everybody cares and we’re a good group. If that means adjusting your game a little bit or getting out of your comfort zone, that’s what you have to do and that’s how you win.”
For Green, none of this is new. He’s good at pushing buttons and setting examples.
“Any time you’re sat out it wakes the player up and it’s a clear message that you’re not playing as well as expected,” said Green. “Sven was arguably one of our best forwards (Friday) and that’s the Sven I look to see every night. That’s the Baertschi I envisioned and we talked about standards and meeting them and not just once.
“Obviously, I’ve known him since he was 17 years old and I know when he’s playing well or not and he does even more so.”
Trust was a factor for Baertschi in Calgary. It didn’t help that Brian Burke’s first salvo after being named president of hockey operations in 2013 was aimed at the winger.
Whether not having the trust of management and being bypassed by other prospects, his days were numbered.
“When you’re told over and over again that you’re not good defensively, then at some point you’re not good defensively anymore,” Baertschi said at the time. “Players got called up and it’s shoved right in front of your face. Did I deal with it the right way? I don’t know.
“I’ve matured a lot.”