Jump to content
The Official Site of the Vancouver Canucks
Canucks Community

Sven Baertschi | LW


snizzle_

Recommended Posts

The Horvat line has been getting the 3rd most minutes for a while now but Willie is playing them 4th in the rotation. They often pen the opposition in their zone and cycle, then the Sedin's play right after against tired players. It's kind of a baseball batting order strategy. Like facing a murders row.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Never heard WD make that kind of assessment on Vey like he did when asked about Sven yesterday (has he?). Obviously Benning/Green are vey high on him but it was nice to hear that WD is on the same page.

I still think that he will be sent down this year as it's not really the time to experiment new lines and Sven is not really suited for a bottom 6 role. When Benning was talking about the physical bottom lines wearing down the opposition I sure hope he didn't have Sven in mind.

Other than Green it's probably Johnston that knows Sven the best and they both have a similar take on where he can be efficient. Johnston got interviewed earlier in the year on Sven and talked about how more challenging it is for skilled players to find their game (and the toll that it can take on their confidence) as opposed for workers/grinders.

So I really don't want to believe that he has to outplay someone as a 3rd/4th liner but that it will be more about him improving the things he needs to to earn a spot on the 2nd line.
Edited by mll
  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Baertschi plays left wing; he doesn't much affect Vey.

When Vey gets bumped up or down the lineup it is at center.

Baertschi is a great talent and you can easily see why Benning has him penciled in as a top six forward.

But for Baertschi top six forward = (future) top 2 left-wing, and therefore he will have to displace other left-wingers, not centers like Vey.

It might take up to 4 years, to displace Danny as #1 LW, therefore Benning has him pencilled in at #2 LW.

For Baertschi to be #2 LW in 2015-2016, it means he has moved ahead of (or showing progress toward being ahead of) Higgins, Burroughs, Matthias, Richardson, and Kennins.

Please, let it be so.

End of post.

************* *************** ************** **************

**** WARNING: LONG LOAD Anti-Vey-Haters Rant Dead Ahead. Not on topic. Read at your own risk. ****

Just as Baerstchi isn't likely to chase Vey from the lineup, Virtanen and other right-wingers are not likely to either.

The pressure can come indirectly like Baerstchi pushing Matthias off left-wing, then Matthias pressuring Vey down at center.

But please stop harping on Vey because you like the looks of some new winger. He's a center, sheesh.

When management acquired Vey, they needed depth at center.

Horvat had not yet made the team, let alone firmly established himself, and they knew they were going to have injuries at some time or another at center just like at every position.

They were right and we did get those injuries and Vey was thrown into the position earlier, and moved up the position higher, than he was quite ready for.

But he showed up, worked hard, didn't always get the results he was hoping for but he got better, at face-offs for example, and board-play, and his passing is improving, and he's got a good wrister he's yet to fully dial in, and this is now officially a run-on sentence.

Anyway, Vey is better now than he was then, but he will have to keep improving to stay in the current lineup (even if it is the pressbox), and keep working hard if he wants to stay ahead of younger centers like McCann and Cassels as they develop.

He is hanging onto his position by his fingernails.

Vey is a talented, smart, hard-working young guy that has given us good and needed service this season.

He is still improving and we are starting to see more of his skills shining through now that he is performing the greasier jobs the position requires at NHL speed.

Even so, if Richardson gets healthy, then Vey gets displaced.

Vey would be looking up at Richie, Bones, Bo, and "Ankie"(as Burrows calls Henrik), even Matthias may be a better center than Vey, right now.

After the playoffs (after we win The Cup), any or all of Bonino, Richardson, and Matthias may no longer be on the team, even Vey may be gone.

We may start next year with Sedin, Horvat, Bonino, and New Guy at center with Matthias, Vey or Richy as a 13th forward.*

Whatever is done, it is done later, not now; for now, Vey is a valuable member of the team heading into the playoffs.

Please stop disrespecting Vey and any of the current players.

Discuss the future of the team but do it without slamming anyone.

Save any derogatory consternations until after the playoffs.

Stop harping on any current member of the team as they head into the playoffs, they are an established group.

The team is what it is at this point in the season, they are not going to/cannot make any changes.

They need fans to get behind them, not pick at perceived faults in any individual.

Go Vey! Go Baertschi! Go Canucks! Let's make Bure a prophet and Win the Cup very, very soon. C'mon Kass, let's go get us a Cup.

* Matthias plays LW or C, so he is pushed down LW by Danny, Higgins, Bear Chi, and Kennins and he also gets pressure from Henrik, Bonino, Bo, Vey, and Richardson at center. Can this be an additional reason Matthias remains an unsigned UFA? Or would it be more of a reason to re-sign him, that he has that flexibility? Is he holding the kids back at two positions or providing valuable experience at either position as needed? (Personally I would re-sign Matthias, but nobody should let me run a team, and I just look forward to seeing what Benning decides to do with all these "extra" assets he has acquired, Vey included.)

End of Rant/ramble. *****

Woo Vey-z!

Vey > Raymond in my opinion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are his shifts against the Coyotes. It was a much better game for him but the competition was vastly inferior to the Jets, which is, at the very least, a consideration. That being said, you can't deny his skating and playmaking abilities. For 2 games now he has managed to make Dorsett look remotely dangerous, which is something neither Vey or Matthias have been able to do at all this year.

(Note: The archived games on Gamecenter Live tend to have occasional blips (freezes, bitrate issues) so the quality of the first few seconds of this video are pretty bad. Should be fine the rest of the way.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s5qKAoqX24

  • Upvote 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

~

I like what you've said about Vey potentially being bumped by either a winger or centre, as others develop. I have for a long time struggled to 'see it' with Vey, but I'm starting to come around.

A thought occurred to me earlier, that in prior years we used to grasp at anything remotely positive in relation to our prospects. For example, years of undersized and under-producing Schroeder in the minors, people would latch on to any sort of production and hope it was pattern forming. This was true of Patrick White for a stretch, Rodin, and even to some degree Jensen. We have such depth in prospects now that the bar is being set so high as to pass the next guy who could potentially take one's spot. This is a good thing, though unfortunately might take away from what Vey brings.

Vey, while not overly physical, defensive or face off specialist can bring a decent level of offence (in relation to a rookie). I'm sure half of CDC would have been thrilled with Vey's 23 points from any of the rookies we brought in last year (Schroeder, Dalpe, Welsh etc.) but none of them even came close his .3ppg. Vey has done well if you take in perspective, that since Hodgson we haven't really had a rookie contribute as much as Vey and no where near Horvat.

If I remember correctly, an interview over the summer regarding Vey, from either JB or WD, they said he is the type of player that continues to improve. This is true if you look at his statline, and he's able to adapt and succeed in any league prior. Here's to hoping he continues to work on learning the game at the NHL level.

--------

Back to Baer!

Never heard WD make that kind of assessment on Vey like he did when asked about Sven yesterday (has he?). Obviously Benning/Green are vey high on him but it was nice to hear that WD is on the same page.

I still think that he will be sent down this year as it's not really the time to experiment new lines and Sven is not really suited for a bottom 6 role. When Benning was talking about the physical bottom lines wearing down the opposition I sure hope he didn't have Sven in mind.

Other than Green it's probably Johnston that knows Sven the best and they both have a similar take on where he can be efficient. Johnston got interviewed earlier in the year on Sven and talked about how more challenging it is for skilled players to find their game (and the toll that it can take on their confidence) as opposed for workers/grinders.

So I really don't want to believe that he has to outplay someone as a 3rd/4th liner but that it will be more about him improving the things he needs to to earn a spot on the 2nd line.

I didn't catch which interview that was, the post game one from Canucks video player? or 1040? I'm curious as to what WD actually said in relation to Baer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Goal

I think that Matthias is on his way out due to cap reasons and his place is where Baertchi will slide in the line up.

I fear you may be right. As an unrestricted free agent, Matthias will get very good offers from other teams (something people who don't like the Dorsett deal seem to discredit or ignore).

If we pay what the market is willing to offer a player with Matthias' size, speed, age, versatility, etc. it is likely we will overpay with respect to the cap.

Baertschi will come cheaper and quite probably play better. I really like Matthias but his UFA status will probably price him out of our cap space.

Richardson is a UFA as well, I think, but he should come cheaper and therefore be easier to re-sign, and still make a heck of a good 4th line center that can move up in case of injury.

But they might let Richie go too, or instead of Matthias (but they wouldn't save as much cap) and we don't want to get too low at center ice.

Bonino would draw more value in a trade than either partly because of his low cap hit but that low cap hit is one of the reasons we want to keep him.

Matthias is probably the most likely center to go I guess and maybe the recent negotiations with Tanev, Dorsett, and Sbisa were going on with his agent as well but did not reach common ground.

I find it ironic that these players' contract perks like high deferred salaries, no movement and no trade clauses, restricted and unrestricted free agency, sometimes work against them.

While I cannot agree with Luongo's plaintive "my contract sucks" (it has paid and is still paying a lot of money and he did get to dictate where he was moved to), I think Shawn would prefer to stay and continue improving with these teammates but his UFA status is probably making it a detrimental financial decision to stay.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are his shifts against the Coyotes. It was a much better game for him but the competition was vastly inferior to the Jets, which is, at the very least, a consideration. That being said, you can't deny his skating and playmaking abilities. For 2 games now he has managed to make Dorsett look remotely dangerous, which is something neither Vey or Matthias have been able to do at all this year.

(Note: The archived games on Gamecenter Live tend to have occasional blips (freezes, bitrate issues) so the quality of the first few seconds of this video are pretty bad. Should be fine the rest of the way.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s5qKAoqX24

Thanks for posting this, I really enjoyed it and had to watch it twice.

I liked Baertschi before I saw this, now I love this guy!

He's got it all, moves, passes, shots, and that sweet puck-stripping check after which he swooped around so he was going the other way and ripped a pass up to Bonino (I think), man I might just go watch it again.

Pavel is Pavel and nobody else is Bure, but I haven't been this excited and we haven't had a new player with this talent level for a very long time.

Baer, with Vey and Dorsett was good, with Bonino was even better.

I would like to see him with Horvat and Vrbata, and eventually maybe with McCann and Virtanen.

And in my opinion, Baertschi has already got himself a spot on the second power play.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

if matthias wants to stay with the canucks. he'll have to take less. take less, and stay in a hockey city, or go where the money is at. he's probably gone, though. would be surprised to see him back with the Canucks, although, I like him as a player. he's good at wing, but his natural position is centre. how much better would be better deployed if given his natural playing position.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Won't mind a Baertschi-Vey-Kassian line for next season. All 3 are ripe to have breakout seasons.

I actually really like the sounds of that line.

I really wished we could keep Matthias. I get what Dorsett brings but how can you choose a guy who 6 4" and can skate, take faceoffs and kill penalties for a guy who's just going to try his best.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I actually really like the sounds of that line.

I really wished we could keep Matthias. I get what Dorsett brings but how can you choose a guy who 6 4" and can skate, take faceoffs and kill penalties for a guy who's just going to try his best.

Dorsett isn't going to try his best?

Can you clarify?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sven played well I was glued to the screen when he was on

It seemed like he was making nice played but his line mates or defense would kill the play somehow

He's definitely a skilled playmaker

Too bad we don't have a scoring center to pair him with

Mcann will be the guy in the future, maybe bonino for now

Sedin Sedin kassian

Baertshi bonino vrbata

Burrows Mathias Dorset

Kenins Horvat Hansen

With everyone healthy with Richardson swapping in if someone has a bad game

Burrows has been invisible the last 5 games

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Won't mind a Baertschi-Vey-Kassian line for next season. All 3 are ripe to have breakout seasons.

That is EXACTLY what I was thinking as I watched that line. Sven and Vey have instant chemistry but a lot of plays broke down because they are so creative offensively that Dorsett couldn't keep up. Nothing against Dorsett, but he plays a very logical game and seems to always do what he should. The young guys do all manner of things that are unpredictable, which makes them dangerous offensively but they need to be surrounded with guys who can read off them.

Vey seemed to come alive with Sven playing with him as well. Suddenly we saw why he was so good in the AHL. Little tight passes, head fakes that threw off defenders, sometimes just leaving the puck as it slid by him, knowing Sven was there to pick it up. And that's where Kass comes in. He can cycle with the Sedins and everyone complains he passes too much and gets too fancy. Put him with Vey and Baertschi and he's going to be a force.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dorsett isn't going to try his best?

Can you clarify?

He's saying how do you change a 6'4 guy in Matthias who is fast sand skilled for Dorsett, who brings energy. He said Dorsett does try hard. I'd like to keep both, but have been leaning toward Derek being the more important player. His contract was a bit much, but we needed him

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...