Sven Baertschi | LW

[mll]

 

[kloubek]

I wonder where Baer will fit now that we have Ferland.  Ferland needs to play with skilled guys to be effective on the scoresheet so you know he is in the top 6... along with Miller - who we didn't get as a 3rd liner.

 

Maybe Pearson moves down? I feel Baer has a greater skillset and is more a top 6 guy if anything.

[-AJ-]

1 hour ago, kloubek said:

I wonder where Baer will fit now that we have Ferland.  Ferland needs to play with skilled guys to be effective on the scoresheet so you know he is in the top 6... along with Miller - who we didn't get as a 3rd liner.

 

Maybe Pearson moves down? I feel Baer has a greater skillset and is more a top 6 guy if anything.

I think right now Pearson is probably the first guy to move down, but I think Ferland and Baer would be battling it out as the 5/6 guys of the top 6.

 

Ferland seems to be more versatile with is physical game, but it sounds like Ferland is much more complementary and Baertschi I think is more capable of driving they play himself. Baertschi is about half a year younger, but has more injury problems than Ferland. The two players have very very similar offensive production, but are quite different players aside from that.

 

To answer your question though, I think Baertschi and Ferland probably make up a second line with Bo.

[WeneedLumme]

On 7/10/2019 at 8:34 PM, kloubek said:

I wonder where Baer will fit now that we have Ferland.  Ferland needs to play with skilled guys to be effective on the scoresheet so you know he is in the top 6... along with Miller - who we didn't get as a 3rd liner.

 

Maybe Pearson moves down? I feel Baer has a greater skillset and is more a top 6 guy if anything.

I have been wondering that myself. Sure is a refreshing change to have too many top 6 guys. Baer really is a top 6 forward, but when teams get deep they have some pretty good players on their 3rd lines. I remember when we traded Bones away, he centered a 3rd line with Kessel on his wing and got a cup ring. If Kessel can play on a third line, I see no reason why Baer can't. It's a sign of a solid team.

[Lancaster]

On 7/6/2019 at 1:49 PM, NUCKER67 said:

Baertschi's never scored more than 18 goals and 35 points in a season (2016/17), He's also never played more than 69 games in a season. Since then, he's had his jaw broken, his shoulder separated, been concussed badly, etc. I'm not sure what people are expecting from him going forward.  

Some of those injuries are kind of impossible to avoid or "tough out".

A broken jaw is a broken jaw.... it can happen to anyone.

A concussion from a blindside hit.... it too can happen to anyone.  

A separated shoulder would be a bigger cause for concern, maybe because it's more susceptible to re-occur?  

 

I'd be more worried if it were more "minor" injuries that keeps coming back like groin strains, ankle injuries, wrist soreness, etc.  

[J-P]

Baer is the perfect 3rd liner along with 2 more physical guys, so if we can play him there and don’t need him in the top 6 we’re in good shape. 

[Googlie]

Interesting read from Rob Williams

 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/sven-baertschi-breakout-season-canucks#.XUdWQzaCZXE.link

[Kanukfanatic]

2 hours ago, Googlie said:

Interesting read from Rob Williams

 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/sven-baertschi-breakout-season-canucks#.XUdWQzaCZXE.link

Rob Williams? Never heard of him.

 

So many people just writing their own stories and putting them online these days.

 

If a guy cannot even type a complete sentence I don't put much faith in his article:

 

If he can stay healthy for a full season, 25 goals and 50 points isn’t out of the question, which would a massive boost to the Canucks’ attack.

[48MPHSlapShot]

I don't have a ton of hope for Baer's future with the Canucks going forward, but I hope he's able to get past his injury woes and prove me wrong. He's a talented player that, if it weren't for the concussion issues, would probably be a staple of our top 6 by now.

 

Seems like a few people in this thread are lowkey hoping he takes a career ending concussion. 

Edited August 5, 2019 by 48MPHSlapShot

[Alflives]

1 minute ago, 48MPHSlapShot said:

I don't have a ton of hope for Baer's future with the Canucks going forward, but I hope he's able to get past his injury woes and prove me wrong. He's a talented player that, if it weren't for the concussion issues, would probably be a staple of our top 6 by now.

 

Seems like a lot of people in this thread are lowkey hoping he takes a career ending concussion. Really gross stuff.

Baer is an easy guy to like.  He’s a good third line player in my books, who could play short periods on the first two lines when injuries happen.  I see him as a very valuable piece, and would like to see him with Sutter and Jake.  I think that’s a really good third line.  

(I still don’t like we gave up a second to get him though.)

[-AJ-]

1 hour ago, Kanukfanatic said:

Rob Williams? Never heard of him.

 

So many people just writing their own stories and putting them online these days.

 

If a guy cannot even type a complete sentence I don't put much faith in his article:

 

If he can stay healthy for a full season, 25 goals and 50 points isn’t out of the question, which would a massive boost to the Canucks’ attack.

Williams has been writing articles for years and I've seen his articles come up every now and then. He's not some no-namer. Additionally, typos are inevitable among all writers and unless they're pervasive in one's writing, using them to discredit a writer's hockey knowledge is disingenuous given that there isn't likely a strong correlation between typo frequency and hockey knowledge.

[higgyfan]

56 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Baer is an easy guy to like.  He’s a good third line player in my books, who could play short periods on the first two lines when injuries happen.  I see him as a very valuable piece, and would like to see him with Sutter and Jake.  I think that’s a really good third line.  

(I still don’t like we gave up a second to get him though.)

Without the injuries, Baer would have been way better than any 2nd rounder.  He is very underrated around here. 

 

He can score better than most and is a terrific playmaker; which is lacking on our team.  I would like to see Sven get a another chance with Bo as I think his playmaking skills  and great hockey sense make him a better fit for that line.  He would be wasted alongside Sutter and Virt 'the north-south grinders'.  Pearson would fit that line better.

 

Regardless, if this team is going to make the playoffs, they will need depth at all positions, so I would hate to see them unload a player like Sven Baertschi.

[Kanukfanatic]

4 hours ago, -AJ- said:

Williams has been writing articles for years and I've seen his articles come up every now and then. He's not some no-namer. Additionally, typos are inevitable among all writers and unless they're pervasive in one's writing, using them to discredit a writer's hockey knowledge is disingenuous given that there isn't likely a strong correlation between typo frequency and hockey knowledge.

If you call yourself a 'writer' and then you make simple sentence structure errors or grammatical errors it is pathetic imo.

 

I mean really, your living depends upon your craft if you are a writer. If you make simple mistakes it is embarrassing, silly, and very unprofessional.

 

Edit: No reason a 'reader' should take a 'writer' seriously if they can't even produce a complete sentence or cannot avoid spelling mistakes. You can agree or not but it doesn't matter. Those people have zero credibility. 

 

I mean really, read the bloody article a dozen times before you hit enter to submit it. If you can't avoid mistakes take up a different profession other than 'writing'.  Jeez....

Edited August 5, 2019 by Kanukfanatic

[-AJ-]

2 hours ago, Kanukfanatic said:

If you call yourself a 'writer' and then you make simple sentence structure errors or grammatical errors it is pathetic imo.

 

I mean really, your living depends upon your craft if you are a writer. If you make simple mistakes it is embarrassing, silly, and very unprofessional.

 

Edit: No reason a 'reader' should take a 'writer' seriously if they can't even produce a complete sentence or cannot avoid spelling mistakes. You can agree or not but it doesn't matter. Those people have zero credibility. 

 

I mean really, read the bloody article a dozen times before you hit enter to submit it. If you can't avoid mistakes take up a different profession other than 'writing'.  Jeez....

I would've fully agreed with you years ago, but once I took up writing myself, I was a bit stunned to realize how many typos I make in my own writing without realizing it. Admittedly, if I was writing professionally, I'd check over my writing much much more, but still, it doesn't surprise me that the occasional typo passes through. I have yet to see any professional reporting sports site be typo-free--sure good ones will have far fewer, but perfection is an unrealistic standard in my eyes.

 

Regardless, I think the point still stands that there's no reason to discredit a writer's hockey knowledge due to typos (unless, as stated earlier, they're pervasive). How a mechanical or mental blip related to spelling/grammar is related to hockey knowledge is beyond me.

[Dixon Ward]

Anybody heard an update on Sven's health?  I think he is the under the radar guy who will benefit from the influx of goal scorers.  He should be on Bo's left side with Pearson, Ferland or Miller on the other side.  Sven is a good playmaker and I think he gets too little attention in this forum.  If he is healthy he will be like another new signing.  

 

Miller Peterson Boeser

Baertschi Bo Pearson

Ferland Sutter Virtanen

Leivo Beagle Motte

 

Extras Goldobin, Gaudette(Utica?), Rousell(IR), MacEwan(Utica)

 

Banished Eriksson, Schaller

 

If I were Green, I would be pretty excited about coaching that group.

[Yung1]

32 minutes ago, Dixon Ward said:

Anybody heard an update on Sven's health?  I think he is the under the radar guy who will benefit from the influx of goal scorers.  He should be on Bo's left side with Pearson, Ferland or Miller on the other side.  Sven is a good playmaker and I think he gets too little attention in this forum.  If he is healthy he will be like another new signing.  

 

Miller Peterson Boeser

Baertschi Bo Pearson

Ferland Sutter Virtanen

Leivo Beagle Motte

 

Extras Goldobin, Gaudette(Utica?), Rousell(IR), MacEwan(Utica)

 

Banished Eriksson, Schaller

 

If I were Green, I would be pretty excited about coaching that group.

Agree that he's underrated on CDC. But I believe he said he's 100% at the end of the year when he came back and played the last few games. I think it's safe to assume he'll be 100% going into camp.

Edited August 12, 2019 by Yung1

[John_Guest]

A question I find myself asking myself concerning what we can expect in the Canuck-killing, second half this year is the question of depth. Do we have any, should there be injury problems in the top 2 lines? If Sven finds himself on the 3rd line this season and he doesn't get hurt I'm going to call that depth. He can move up. I like that. More please.

Edited August 12, 2019 by John_Guest

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Sven Baertschi on Sportsnet 650:

 

"Feel like I had a great summer. Took care of myself and my body. I want to come in and re-establish myself and give myself a good chance. The only thing I could do in the summer was put in the work and once October came around make sure I'm ready."

 

"Everyone wants ice-time. It needs to be earned. It's a fresh start, a new team this year. It's a new opportunity this year to earn it. Some guys make big steps in the summer, other guys are standing still. My goal was to give myself a chance to be a top-6 guy."

 

"Doesn't mean because they signed other guys in the summer that guys will be pushed aside. I think they want guys that want to earn spots upfront and want to earn the ice-time."

 

On youth: "Time is what a lot of guys need. Being rushed into situations they can't handle, it gets hard. Some guys think they have to be in the NHL when they're 18, but they're meant to develop and have a great career. It's the best league in the world, it's not that easy."

[kenhodgejr]

As a person who has struggled with brain injuries I feel for what Baertchi went through. I am pulling for him and I hope he is able to show off his skill and play making abilities at camp. 

Baertchi Pettersson Boeser

Ferland Horvat Miller

Pearson Sutter Virtanen

Leivo Beagle Motte 

Roussel 

 

[Kanukfanatic]

Nice story on Baertschi from SN:

 

 

VICTORIA, B.C. — On rare occasions, when they are really fortunate, athletes get into the space they call ‘the zone.’ Everything slows down. There is clarity, awareness, simplicity.

Vancouver Canucks winger Sven Baertschi would seem to be a long way from the zone. After “living in a fog” while missing most of last season with a concussion, the 26-year-old is trying to restart his National Hockey League career.

But after a summer of acquisitions by the Canucks, including a pair of wingers who now slot in ahead of Baertschi, the Swiss scorer will be scrambling this month for a place in coach Travis Green’s lineup while trying to prove to everyone that he can still take a hit and stay healthy.

That’s a difficult spot for a player who, until he got injured last Oct. 24 on an unpenalized hit-from-behind by Vegas Golden Knight Tomas Hyka, was a regular top-line partner for centre Bo Horvat.

Baertschi, however, told Sportsnet he is already in the zone — not only in hockey, but in life.

After missing 56 games last season and wondering at times if he’d ever play or just “feel like myself again,” Baertschi was not saved by neurologists or physiotherapists or Canucks doctors, although he is grateful for the help of all of these.

Baertschi was saved by meditation.

 

“I started feeling anxiety,” he explained after his first session here at Canucks training camp. “Not depression, anxiety. I’d never felt that before. I didn’t understand it. You fall down a dark hole, it’s hard to get out. I haven’t talked about this, but I started feeling better after I started this (meditation). Not just better, but great. It’s like healing yourself from within.

“What I started doing was mindfulness meditation. I had six weeks of training to get to know my body and how I can deal with certain situations. It was a crash course. Ever since that day, it’s become part of my routine every day. I started feeling better and better and it got me to the point where I felt really comfortable.”

Baertschi said the team put him in touch with a psychologist, who introduced him to mindfulness, which has its roots in Zen and Buddhism. Many athletes, including basketball star Klay Thompson and Canadian tennis sensation Bianca Andreescu practise meditation.

When Baertschi’s concussion symptoms returned in February, 12 games into his comeback, he was desperate to understand why his head and body felt the way they did.

“Why do I get headaches, why is my neck sore?” Baertschi said. “A lot of those things can be connected to anxiety.

“It’s just understanding your body. It’s trying to be present. I think that’s the biggest thing. As humans, we spend so much time in the future and the past. We worry. We think ahead. We look backwards. But we’re never in the right now. We forget to enjoy the moment.”

Baertschi said his daily meditations can be 10 minutes or 45 minutes.

“You’ve got to be alert and you’ve got to be awake and be able to focus on just being there,” he said. “You go into a quiet room and go through certain body scans (visualizations) and just sit there and focus on breathing. That really puts you in that present moment, and that’s when your brain functions the best. In sports, people call it the zone. That’s what that really means — guys are in the here and now, they’re present. That’s what I’ve learned through mindfulness meditation.”

 

Baertschi said his symptoms began to abate as he meditated.

His recovery was further boosted on April 18, when his wife Laura delivered the couple’s first child, a boy named Callan.

“Playing hockey is still my passion,” Baertschi said. “But once my son was born, priorities changed. It was kind of like: Now I’m doing everything for you. My dream is for him to see me play hockey.”

That dream is complicated by an uncertain future with the Canucks.

In the 26 games he did play last season, Baertschi scored nine times and added four assists. When healthy, he has been a fairly consistent secondary scorer in the four seasons since his trade from the Calgary Flames.

But the Canucks traded for top-six winger J.T. Miller in June, then signed potential 20-goal scorer Micheal Ferland in July. Winger Tanner Pearson was acquired last February and scored nine goals in 19 games after replacing Baertschi on Horvat’s wing.

It’s unclear where Baertschi fits in this new landscape.

“It’s kind of wait and see for a lot of our guys to see where they fit in,” Green said. “Players from last year, they need to be better.

“I’m not saying Baertschi is going to get pushed aside, but some guys are going to get pushed aside as you get better. That’s just part of the progression of a team that’s trying to get better and improve and bring new guys in. Someone’s not going to make the team and someone’s going to be disappointed. That’s just the reality of where we’re at right now.”

Baertschi has two years remaining on his contract at an annual cap hit of $3.37 million. On a team that may have to contort to stay under the salary cap this season, that number does not help Baertschi if he falls into a depth role.

“That’s the part I’m trying to get away from — that worrying and overthinking things,” Baertschi said. “My head is feeling good, my body’s feeling great, and I’m coming into camp with confidence. I’m not worried about anything.

“Like we’ve talked about before, where I end up, who knows? Whatever it is, it’s the coach’s decision. All I can do is leave it all out there and make sure I let them know, ‘Hey, you know, I can still play.’

“J.T. coming in, he’s obviously a great player. Ferland, he’s a great player as well. But you know as well as I do, things happen throughout a season. I just want to be ready for any role I get. All I can do is put my stamp on it and make sure they haven’t forgotten how good a player I can be. That’s my job now — to let them know I’m still here and I’ll do anything I can to help this team.”