Believing in Baertschi
Says he’s matured since struggling with Flames; Canucks hope he’s right
The Sven Baertschi true-believers club includes Mike Johnston, Travis Green, Jim Benning and Willie Desjardins.
However, the only belief that matters is the left-winger believing he’s physically and mentally prepared to earn and maintain a top-six role with the Vancouver Canucks next season.
Management is convinced. A palatable extension for the restricted free agent with little contract leverage is a formality because his sliding entry-level deal paid $832,500 US at the NHL level and $70,000 in the minors last season, not including bonuses. And those who have coached him along the way — Johnston and Green with Portland of the WHL and Green again with Utica of the AHL — have always championed the skill set of the slick Swiss sharpshooter.
With a franchise mantra to get younger and faster, the 22-year-old fits the formula. He had seven goals and 15 points in 15 regular-season games with the Comets last season and then added eight goals and 15 points in a 21-game march to the Calder Cup final.
Green has the best book on Baertschi because he saw the winger evolve from a 30-goal, junior gunslinger to a responsible pro. And because Green dispenses tough coaching love, he gets to gauge NHL readiness without the complication and politics of sharing an AHL affiliation. His read on Baertschi is encouraging.
“He was a dominant player at our (AHL) level and all signs indicated that he’s ready for the next jump,” Green said Wednesday. “You have to give players the opportunity and it should be a prolonged look to give the player confidence that you believe in him. I have a lot of belief in Sven. He has a chance to be a top-six forward who can play on your power play and is a guy who deserves the chance.
“What we tried to stress is that there’s a fine line of when to think offensively and when you have to be safer with the puck. Those areas are more from his own blue-line back to the goalie and when to make a pass off the wing and into the middle. He’s like a lot of young guys who want to score, but we would play him in the last minute and he was a goto guy.
“He’s going to have ups and downs, but does he have the potential to be a second-line NHL winger? Absolutely, 100 per cent. Of all the kids I’ve had, there are a handful who I have said should play in the NHL and he’s one of them.”
Whether it was his fallout with the Calgary Flames or the steep price of surrendering a second-round 2015 draft pick at the NHL trade deadline, the jury is going to be out on Baertschi until consistency becomes his calling card. The 13th selection in the 2011 draft had three goals in a five-game span with the Flames in March of 2012 and whether complacency or a sense of entitlement set in, he would score just five more times in 61 games over the next three NHL seasons and be buried in the minors.
“It’s all about me pushing,” said Baertschi. “I just want to prove I can play in this league and prove that they (Canucks) got the right player. It’s a dream and this is a restart for me because I went through some tough times.”
Should Baertschi somehow bomb, the fuse of discontent will be lit in a hurry. The Canucks couldn’t recoup a second-round pick in the June draft and watched as six left-wingers were selected in that round — especially some with the size, strength and scoring that Benning covets as the Canucks general manager. They included Paul Bittner (6-foot-4, 208 pounds, Portland, WHL) to Columbus at No. 38; Ryan Gropp (6-2, 187, Seattle, WHL) to the New York Rangers at No. 41 and Jordan Greenaway (6-5, 222, U.S. development program) to Minnesota at No. 50.
Baertschi teased Desjardins with two goals in a meaningless regularseason finale. With a left-wing depth chart of Daniel Sedin, Baertschi, Chris Higgins, Brandon Prust, Ronalds Kenins, Hunter Shinkaruk and converted centre Brendan Gaunce, the second-line job is there for the taking. Higgins was reduced to a fourth-line role when Baertschi was recalled in the post-season and unrestricted free agent Shawn Matthias signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. However, Desjardins was reluctant to start last season with Bo Horvat or even give the rookie too many initial minutes.
It’s a matter of trust and it 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 on the eve of the 201314 season.
“I see this as a guy who’s focusing on one area (offence) and even then, sporadically,” said Burke. “So, I don’t know what we have.”
What Baertschi had was a disconnect. Whether not having the trust of management and being bypassed by other prospects, his days with the Flames 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,” said Baertschi. “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.”