Members of Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps felt the usual excitement before the day before the start of a new Major League Soccer season Friday – but they were also relieved to have narrowly avoided a players strike.
“There were a number of times when we all thought that we weren’t going to be playing this weekend,” said TFC midfielder Michael Bradley.
The MLS players union and league agreed to a new collective agreement Wednesday after players prepare to vote on a work stoppage, enabling Saturday's season opener between TFC and the Whitecaps to go ahead.
“It’s been a long process – in every way – preparing our union, our group of players -- to be ready for what was going to transpire this last week,” said Bradley. “It has felt like an eternity. I was only in D.C. Monday and came back and was in Toronto with the group. Joe (Bendik) and Stevie (Caldwell) were there (in Washington) all week, and I can only imagine how long it felt for them.”
Highlights of the deal include an elevated minimum salary and unrestricted free agency for players based on age and number of seasons played in MLS Bradley indicated that neither players nor owners came away from the bargaining table happy with the new deal.
“There’s a lot that goes into it from every angle – the players, the league, to the owners,” he said. “And in the end, I feel that there probably isn’t anybody that thinks it’s a perfect deal on any side. But at the end of the day, it still is a deal that allows for football to be played and for the league to continue to grow. And, at the end of the day, that’s what matters most. The fans are the real winners.”
Caldwell said the negotiations were very difficult and intense. MLS has numerous restrictions on salary, designated player status and playing rights. For example, players who are released can go back into a draft and be picked up by another team.
“(The CBA in MLS) is so alien to the guys that it’s hard for them to wrap their heads around,” said Caldwell. “It’s a completely different experience playing here with it being a similar league, and having the difficulties that we have, to try and increase salary caps and minimums – and allow players to choose where they play football for fair market value. And that’s been a difficult process for everybody concerned, and that includes the MLS and the clubs.”
The new deal means that MLS will begin in its 20th season on time, and labour negotiations players and owners will probably never be the same.
“It seems they wanted to avoid a work stoppage, which we’re pleased to say that we have,” said Caldwell. “It would not have been a good experience for everybody involved, but we were willing to undertake that, if we had to, to get to an agreement which was acceptable.”
Friday, March 6, 2015
B.C. Lions prospects get glimpse of Grey Cup weather
Free agent tryout camps don’t usually provide many ways to simulate the conditions of a CFL game, but the B.C. Lions caught a break Friday.
A bad weather break, that is.
Snow was on the ground and temperatures were in the single digits as more than 40 hopefuls took to the field at a Lions free agent camp in the Dallas suburb of Bedford, Tex.
“We’ve dealt with odd weather in the past, but this is definitely a first,” said Lions general maanger Wally Buono in a news release. “They don’t get the white stuff down here very often, so I guess it’s only fitting that a Canadian football team was clearing snow off a field prior to a workout.”
As the wily release writer noted: “The team’s first free agent camp of 2015 had a Grey Cup feel to say the least.”
Well, maybe not when you consider some of the divergent talent levels that were likely present. But, for any players that might get a contract, the weather was likely similar to what they could expect in the CFL come fall.
Lions head coach Jeff Tedford, defensive coordinator Mark Washington, offensive coordinator George Cortez and members of the club’s football operations department including Neil McEvoy, Ryan Rigmaiden and Geroy Simon evaluated the players on hand, hoping the cold could yield a hot prospect.
“The conditions weren’t ideal, but playing conditions during the season often aren’t ideal either, so we’re seeing how these guys deal with adversity at a very important time,” said Tedford, who is preparing for his first season at the B.C. helm. “The opportunity to play professional football is absolutely critical in the lives of these young men, and I was very impressed with the level of ability, execution and effort we saw today. It was a great first camp.”
It was the first of five Lions free agent camps to be held this spring. Last year, B.C. invited several such camp attendees to main training camp and one, defensive back Torri Williams, appeared in 16 games in 2014.
The Lions will host another free agent workout in Las Vegas on in Sunday and Atlanta, Washington D.C. and Seattle in coming weeks – snow or no snow. Buono and company will keep their eyes out for a defensive lineman, offensive lineman and defensive back.
Some of the better prospects will get invitations to the club's main camp in June and maybe even a contract. If anyone stays, he will get to find out what real CFL game conditions are like.
A bad weather break, that is.
Snow was on the ground and temperatures were in the single digits as more than 40 hopefuls took to the field at a Lions free agent camp in the Dallas suburb of Bedford, Tex.
“We’ve dealt with odd weather in the past, but this is definitely a first,” said Lions general maanger Wally Buono in a news release. “They don’t get the white stuff down here very often, so I guess it’s only fitting that a Canadian football team was clearing snow off a field prior to a workout.”
As the wily release writer noted: “The team’s first free agent camp of 2015 had a Grey Cup feel to say the least.”
Well, maybe not when you consider some of the divergent talent levels that were likely present. But, for any players that might get a contract, the weather was likely similar to what they could expect in the CFL come fall.
Lions head coach Jeff Tedford, defensive coordinator Mark Washington, offensive coordinator George Cortez and members of the club’s football operations department including Neil McEvoy, Ryan Rigmaiden and Geroy Simon evaluated the players on hand, hoping the cold could yield a hot prospect.
“The conditions weren’t ideal, but playing conditions during the season often aren’t ideal either, so we’re seeing how these guys deal with adversity at a very important time,” said Tedford, who is preparing for his first season at the B.C. helm. “The opportunity to play professional football is absolutely critical in the lives of these young men, and I was very impressed with the level of ability, execution and effort we saw today. It was a great first camp.”
It was the first of five Lions free agent camps to be held this spring. Last year, B.C. invited several such camp attendees to main training camp and one, defensive back Torri Williams, appeared in 16 games in 2014.
The Lions will host another free agent workout in Las Vegas on in Sunday and Atlanta, Washington D.C. and Seattle in coming weeks – snow or no snow. Buono and company will keep their eyes out for a defensive lineman, offensive lineman and defensive back.
Some of the better prospects will get invitations to the club's main camp in June and maybe even a contract. If anyone stays, he will get to find out what real CFL game conditions are like.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Jacob Markstrom running out of time to prove himself
Jacob Markstrom’s long-awaited chance finally came Tuesday.
The goaltender drew a starting assignment with the Vancouver Canucks for the first time since April 13, 2014 in a win over Calgary. Suffice it to say it meant a lot to the 25-year-old Gavle, Sweden native, who has been an afterthought most of the time since he was acquired from the Florida Panthers last March as part of the Roberto Luongo deal.
“This is where I want to be,” said Markstrom before the Canucks faced the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Arena. “That’s why I’m over here (from Sweden). It’s everybody’s dream to play in the NHL. When you get the chance, you’ve gotta take it and show people.”
Markstrom, recalled from Utica of the AHL as a result of Ryan Miller’s knee injury, has spent most of this season in the minors, where he has put together a 17-7-2 record mark, sparkling 1.95 goals-against average and four shutouts. The standout play earned him a berth in the AHL all-star game.
“I feel really relaxed and confident on the ice while playing games,” he said. “I can’t wait to get out there.”
This season has contrasted sharply with last spring, when he served as a backup with the Canucks but only played after Vancouver was eliminated from playoff contention. Still, he has had to deal with an injury and being placed on waivers when the Canucks demoted him at the start of the season. For the past two seasons, he has shuffled between the NHL and the minors.
“It’s obviously been challenging, but all this year I’ve been as positive as I can be,” he said. “If I start nagging and complaining, it’s gonna hurt my game on the ice. But I’ve been super-positive. I think that’s why my game has been pretty good down in the minor league. You’ve gotta perform on the AHL level to be able to get a sniff up here. I’m just happy for this opportunity and, hopefully, I’ll get some more starts soon.”
Markstrom believes the positive thinking has helped him elevate his game to a fairly higher level than where it used to be.
“I just stop more pucks than I used to do,” he said. “So that’s a good thing for a goalie. (I’m) just working hard. It started this summer. I just felt really good off the ice strength-and-conditioning-wise. It really showed up on the ice, too.
“And, obviously, Rollie (Melanson, the Canucks goaltender coach) helped me a lot and Dan Cloutier (a Canucks roving goaltender and development coach) down in Utica, too. (Cloutier) is really good. Obviously, he’s has been an all-star goalie at this level. He knows what it takes and he knows the challenges that a goalie goes through off and on the ice, and the mental states, and even technical (matters). And, (he’s) got a good feeling of what it takes to get ready – if I should get bag-skated for an hour or if I should get a hug or something. He had a really good feel for coaching down there.”
Markstrom has backstopped Utica to first place in their division. Now, the Canucks hope he and Eddie Lack, the starter in wake of Miller’s injury, can help them secure a post-season berth.
Coach Willie Desjardins said it was important for Lack to get a rest after he gave the Canucks a shootout win over St. Louis on Sunday and played well on an eastern road trip on which the Canucks went 3-2.
“And, I think, for us, Markstrom’s played well in Utica, so we just want to see where he’s at,” said Desjardins.
Evaluation of Markstrom will be critical for both 2015 playoff and future purposes. Either he or Lack, a fellow Swede and close friend, will depart Vancouver in the summer, and general manager Jim Benning must figure out which one he wants to keep.
Lack is due to become an unrestricted free agent, and appears unlikely to stay given that he will have some market value and should be in for a fairly significant raise.
By electing to keep Lack at this year’s trade deadline, the Canucks must re-sign him or risk losing him for nothing, but he now has a strong say in determining his future. His desire to be a full-time starter in the near future will likely trump all factors. He can’t become a No. 1 unless Miller’s status changes, and the Canucks are committed to him contractually for two more seasons after this one.
Markstrom, a pending restricted free agent, is easier for the Canucks to lock up because he is unlikely to receive an offer from another team. In such case, Vancouver would have to be compensated, and Markstrom is still largely unproven at the NHL level. However, Benning will likely not hesitate to let Markstrom go if he is not satisfied with his play. The GM should have no difficulty finding a veteran backup for Miller on the trade or free agent market in the summer.
So it’s critical for Markstrom, who went 1-2 with the Canucks in four appearances last season, to get a chance to prove his worth – because he’s running out of time to do so.
That’s another reason Tuesday’s long-awaited chance to start again was significant.
The goaltender drew a starting assignment with the Vancouver Canucks for the first time since April 13, 2014 in a win over Calgary. Suffice it to say it meant a lot to the 25-year-old Gavle, Sweden native, who has been an afterthought most of the time since he was acquired from the Florida Panthers last March as part of the Roberto Luongo deal.
“This is where I want to be,” said Markstrom before the Canucks faced the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Arena. “That’s why I’m over here (from Sweden). It’s everybody’s dream to play in the NHL. When you get the chance, you’ve gotta take it and show people.”
Markstrom, recalled from Utica of the AHL as a result of Ryan Miller’s knee injury, has spent most of this season in the minors, where he has put together a 17-7-2 record mark, sparkling 1.95 goals-against average and four shutouts. The standout play earned him a berth in the AHL all-star game.
“I feel really relaxed and confident on the ice while playing games,” he said. “I can’t wait to get out there.”
This season has contrasted sharply with last spring, when he served as a backup with the Canucks but only played after Vancouver was eliminated from playoff contention. Still, he has had to deal with an injury and being placed on waivers when the Canucks demoted him at the start of the season. For the past two seasons, he has shuffled between the NHL and the minors.
“It’s obviously been challenging, but all this year I’ve been as positive as I can be,” he said. “If I start nagging and complaining, it’s gonna hurt my game on the ice. But I’ve been super-positive. I think that’s why my game has been pretty good down in the minor league. You’ve gotta perform on the AHL level to be able to get a sniff up here. I’m just happy for this opportunity and, hopefully, I’ll get some more starts soon.”
Markstrom believes the positive thinking has helped him elevate his game to a fairly higher level than where it used to be.
“I just stop more pucks than I used to do,” he said. “So that’s a good thing for a goalie. (I’m) just working hard. It started this summer. I just felt really good off the ice strength-and-conditioning-wise. It really showed up on the ice, too.
“And, obviously, Rollie (Melanson, the Canucks goaltender coach) helped me a lot and Dan Cloutier (a Canucks roving goaltender and development coach) down in Utica, too. (Cloutier) is really good. Obviously, he’s has been an all-star goalie at this level. He knows what it takes and he knows the challenges that a goalie goes through off and on the ice, and the mental states, and even technical (matters). And, (he’s) got a good feeling of what it takes to get ready – if I should get bag-skated for an hour or if I should get a hug or something. He had a really good feel for coaching down there.”
Markstrom has backstopped Utica to first place in their division. Now, the Canucks hope he and Eddie Lack, the starter in wake of Miller’s injury, can help them secure a post-season berth.
Coach Willie Desjardins said it was important for Lack to get a rest after he gave the Canucks a shootout win over St. Louis on Sunday and played well on an eastern road trip on which the Canucks went 3-2.
“And, I think, for us, Markstrom’s played well in Utica, so we just want to see where he’s at,” said Desjardins.
Evaluation of Markstrom will be critical for both 2015 playoff and future purposes. Either he or Lack, a fellow Swede and close friend, will depart Vancouver in the summer, and general manager Jim Benning must figure out which one he wants to keep.
Lack is due to become an unrestricted free agent, and appears unlikely to stay given that he will have some market value and should be in for a fairly significant raise.
By electing to keep Lack at this year’s trade deadline, the Canucks must re-sign him or risk losing him for nothing, but he now has a strong say in determining his future. His desire to be a full-time starter in the near future will likely trump all factors. He can’t become a No. 1 unless Miller’s status changes, and the Canucks are committed to him contractually for two more seasons after this one.
Markstrom, a pending restricted free agent, is easier for the Canucks to lock up because he is unlikely to receive an offer from another team. In such case, Vancouver would have to be compensated, and Markstrom is still largely unproven at the NHL level. However, Benning will likely not hesitate to let Markstrom go if he is not satisfied with his play. The GM should have no difficulty finding a veteran backup for Miller on the trade or free agent market in the summer.
So it’s critical for Markstrom, who went 1-2 with the Canucks in four appearances last season, to get a chance to prove his worth – because he’s running out of time to do so.
That’s another reason Tuesday’s long-awaited chance to start again was significant.
Derek Dorsett eager to remain a Canuck
Derek Dorsett admits he “would be lying” if he said he wasn’t worried about being moved at the NHL trading deadline.
The Vancouver Canucks winger had reason to be concerned, because he is a pending unrestricted free agent. In such cases, teams like to get assets at the deadline – in the form of players or draft picks – in order to avoid losing established veterans for nothing in return.
A day after the deadline had passed, Dorsett was relieved that he remained a Canuck.
“Obviously, this is my first time being a UFA going into a deadline,” he said before Vancouver hosted the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Arena. “But it’s out of my control. I’ve learned, over the years. Just go with the day and, obviously, I’d be lying if (I said no.) ... But I don’t beat myself over it. If something happened, something would happen. But, obviously, it’s good to get that day over with. (Management) have shown a lot of confidence in this group, and they want to let us see what we can do, and that says a lot for this group in here.”
Dorsett was acquired in the off-season from the New Rangers for a third-round draft pick. Now, the 28-year-old Kindersley, Sask., who has also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, hopes to remain a Canuck well beyond this summer’s July 1 free agency opening.
“Obviously, I really love it here, and my family really loves it here, too, and I like being back in Canada,” he said. “We’ll see the way things go.”
The Vancouver Canucks winger had reason to be concerned, because he is a pending unrestricted free agent. In such cases, teams like to get assets at the deadline – in the form of players or draft picks – in order to avoid losing established veterans for nothing in return.
A day after the deadline had passed, Dorsett was relieved that he remained a Canuck.
“Obviously, this is my first time being a UFA going into a deadline,” he said before Vancouver hosted the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Arena. “But it’s out of my control. I’ve learned, over the years. Just go with the day and, obviously, I’d be lying if (I said no.) ... But I don’t beat myself over it. If something happened, something would happen. But, obviously, it’s good to get that day over with. (Management) have shown a lot of confidence in this group, and they want to let us see what we can do, and that says a lot for this group in here.”
Dorsett was acquired in the off-season from the New Rangers for a third-round draft pick. Now, the 28-year-old Kindersley, Sask., who has also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, hopes to remain a Canuck well beyond this summer’s July 1 free agency opening.
“Obviously, I really love it here, and my family really loves it here, too, and I like being back in Canada,” he said. “We’ll see the way things go.”
Zack Kassian glad to remain a Canuck
Zack Kassian has eluded the wolf for now.
The wolf was at the door as the NHL trading deadline came and went. Despite facing intense criticism and playing inconsistently for much of the season, Kassian remained a Vancouver Canuck.
“I guess I’m still here and excited to be a part of it,” Kassian said minutes before the noon Monday deadline. “It’s always a little nerve-racking, I think, for anyone. There is a lot more than just playing hockey. You have your family, your house, your condo, your cars … you have a lot of things on the go.
“I love Vancouver, love my team, love my teammates and I definitely want to be here. Obviously if the team didn’t think I fit in, or whatnot, I’d go somewhere else, but my heart is in Vancouver. We want to get into the playoffs and we want to do some damage.”
As he spoke to reporters, it was evident that Kassian was grateful for the chance to remain a Canuck. He appeared much more relaxed than he has recently when facing the media.
General manager Jim Benning admitted that he explored the possibility of trading Kassian, 24, to see whether players “of similar ilk” were available, but wound up keeping him – at least for now.
Kassian’s play has improved greatly in the past few weeks. He now finds himself on a line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin. More importantly, he’s playing with an edge and showing signs that he can produce the offence expected of him when he was acquired in the 2012 deadline-day trade that sent Cody Hodgson to Buffalo. Heading into today’s home game against San Jose, the Vancouver winger had seven goals and two assists in his previous 11 games – a much improved output from earlier in the season, when he was a healthy scratch.
But the jury – which consists of Benning, coach Willie Desjardins and president Trevor Linden – is out until Kassian shows the consistency expected from him.
The wolf was at the door as the NHL trading deadline came and went. Despite facing intense criticism and playing inconsistently for much of the season, Kassian remained a Vancouver Canuck.
“I guess I’m still here and excited to be a part of it,” Kassian said minutes before the noon Monday deadline. “It’s always a little nerve-racking, I think, for anyone. There is a lot more than just playing hockey. You have your family, your house, your condo, your cars … you have a lot of things on the go.
“I love Vancouver, love my team, love my teammates and I definitely want to be here. Obviously if the team didn’t think I fit in, or whatnot, I’d go somewhere else, but my heart is in Vancouver. We want to get into the playoffs and we want to do some damage.”
As he spoke to reporters, it was evident that Kassian was grateful for the chance to remain a Canuck. He appeared much more relaxed than he has recently when facing the media.
General manager Jim Benning admitted that he explored the possibility of trading Kassian, 24, to see whether players “of similar ilk” were available, but wound up keeping him – at least for now.
Kassian’s play has improved greatly in the past few weeks. He now finds himself on a line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin. More importantly, he’s playing with an edge and showing signs that he can produce the offence expected of him when he was acquired in the 2012 deadline-day trade that sent Cody Hodgson to Buffalo. Heading into today’s home game against San Jose, the Vancouver winger had seven goals and two assists in his previous 11 games – a much improved output from earlier in the season, when he was a healthy scratch.
But the jury – which consists of Benning, coach Willie Desjardins and president Trevor Linden – is out until Kassian shows the consistency expected from him.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Canucks GM Jim Benning differs from his peers at deadline
Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning took a different approach than his peers at the NHL trade deadline.
While most GMs made moves intended to help their team win the Stanley Cup, he swung one intended to help Vancouver’s AHL farm team in Utica, N.Y., claim the Calder Cup. That was the aim as Benning, who stood pat on tweaks to his NHL roster, acquired prospect Cory Conacher from the New York Islanders for minor-leaguer Dustin Jeffrey.
“We have a good team down in Utica this year, and we have some good prospects that are developing, but we think playoff success is a good teaching tool for that group to continue to grow and to learn from,” said Benning. “We thought, maybe, we were missing a scorer, like a power-play guy, a guy that’s a natural scorer, and Conacher has proven in his AHL career that he’s a real good scorer in that league.”
Conacher, a 25-year-old Burlington, Ont., native, has played 15 games with the Islanders this season, recording three points (1-2-3) and 14 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 28 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, collecting 22 points (5-17-22) and 30 minutes. Altogether, he has toiled in 141 career NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, and Islanders, recording 58 points (19-39-58) and 84 penalty minutes.
In 2011-12, Conacher produced an AHL career-high 39 goals and 41 assists for 80 points, along with 114 penalty minutes, with the Norfolk Admirals. The next season, he recorded a respectable total of 57 points in 72 games while shuffling between Syracuse of the AHL, Tampa and Ottawa.
"(Conacher) is a power-play guy, so we made that deal to help that group down there, and he’s played NHL games,” said Benning. “In case we need him (in Vancouver), we have depth with him up here.”
BWhile helping Utica now, Benning also received a potential long-term benefit, because Conacher is due to become a restricted free agent, and the Canucks can tie up his rights going forward. On the other hand, the departed Jeffrey is slated to become an unrestricted free agent.
Benning acknowledged that Conacher has the same offensive orientation as Sven Baertschi, who was acquired in Vancouver's only other trade Monday, from Calgary for a 2015 second-round draft pick, and will also report to Utica. But the style duplication didn’t bother the GM.
“Why get one of those (potentially high-scoring) guys when you can get two?” he said.
While most GMs made moves intended to help their team win the Stanley Cup, he swung one intended to help Vancouver’s AHL farm team in Utica, N.Y., claim the Calder Cup. That was the aim as Benning, who stood pat on tweaks to his NHL roster, acquired prospect Cory Conacher from the New York Islanders for minor-leaguer Dustin Jeffrey.
“We have a good team down in Utica this year, and we have some good prospects that are developing, but we think playoff success is a good teaching tool for that group to continue to grow and to learn from,” said Benning. “We thought, maybe, we were missing a scorer, like a power-play guy, a guy that’s a natural scorer, and Conacher has proven in his AHL career that he’s a real good scorer in that league.”
Conacher, a 25-year-old Burlington, Ont., native, has played 15 games with the Islanders this season, recording three points (1-2-3) and 14 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 28 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, collecting 22 points (5-17-22) and 30 minutes. Altogether, he has toiled in 141 career NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, and Islanders, recording 58 points (19-39-58) and 84 penalty minutes.
In 2011-12, Conacher produced an AHL career-high 39 goals and 41 assists for 80 points, along with 114 penalty minutes, with the Norfolk Admirals. The next season, he recorded a respectable total of 57 points in 72 games while shuffling between Syracuse of the AHL, Tampa and Ottawa.
"(Conacher) is a power-play guy, so we made that deal to help that group down there, and he’s played NHL games,” said Benning. “In case we need him (in Vancouver), we have depth with him up here.”
BWhile helping Utica now, Benning also received a potential long-term benefit, because Conacher is due to become a restricted free agent, and the Canucks can tie up his rights going forward. On the other hand, the departed Jeffrey is slated to become an unrestricted free agent.
Benning acknowledged that Conacher has the same offensive orientation as Sven Baertschi, who was acquired in Vancouver's only other trade Monday, from Calgary for a 2015 second-round draft pick, and will also report to Utica. But the style duplication didn’t bother the GM.
“Why get one of those (potentially high-scoring) guys when you can get two?” he said.
Sven Baertschi trade has plenty of upside for Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks did not do much at the NHL trade deadline Monday, but they still managed to gain attention.
Shortly after the deadline passed, it was announced that the Canucks had acquired 22-year-old Swiss forward Sven Baertschi from the Calgary Flames for a second-round draft choice. This deal was newsworthy just for the fact that the Canucks made a rare deal with a Pacific Division rival.
Such trades almost never happen, because of fears that they will be harmful to each team’s positions in the standings. Usually, GMs prefer to deal with counterparts in opposing conferences. Sometimes, three-way trades can result in a player going to a divisional or conference rival but, ironically, the Flames initially approached the Canucks.
Vancouver general manager Jim Benning paid a high price, but Baertschi, chosen 13th overall in 2011, is an exceptional talent with tremendous upside – if his junior career is any indication.
“I don’t like giving up draft picks, but I think that in this case, Sven Baertschi, we feel, is gonna be a top-six NHL player for our team some day,” said Benning. “So we weighed getting Sven with what we would get in the second round with our pick and we made a decision: Let’s go ahead and do this. He’s a guy that fits our profile. He’s fast, he’s skilled, and I don’t know what happened with his development in Calgary, but we’re very excited to have him, and he’s going to be a big part of our skill group going forward.”
Baertschi has struggled to gain permanent NHL employment, but his former junior bench boss, Mike Johnston, now coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, told The Calgary Herald earlier this month that the light will soon go on for Baertschi.
“I just think it’s … such a tough league, the NHL,” said Johnston. “Hard for young guys. You can come in, lose your confidence and kind of lose your game. If you’re more of a grinder, a worker, a tough guy, it’s easier. But if you’re a skilled guy trying to figure out your game, it becomes more challenging.
“I’m hoping he can still do it. I believe he can.”
So does Benning. The same goes for Travis Green, coach of Vancouver’s AHL farm team in Utica, N.Y., who was an assistant with Portland during Baertschi’s junior days.
Baertschi had only four points in 15 games with the Flames this season and 25 points in 36 AHL contests with their Adirondack farm team. But in his last WHL season with Portland, he accumulated 33 goals and 61 assists 94 points, after producing 85 points in 66 games the year before.
To someone who saw him play during those two campaigns, it was obvious that Baertschi was well ahead of his peers and had the speed and skill necessary for the NHL. Whether he can handle the rough going remains to be seen.
Johnston was convinced that the Flames still believed in the youngster, but he was wrong. It’s also debatable whether the Flames developed him properly given some of the trials and tribulations that they were going through with coaching and management changes and on-ice struggles prior to this turn-around season in Calgary.
Now in his third season as a full-time pro, Baertschi has yet to play a full season in either the AHL or NHL, splitting time between both. That situation points to a lack of patience on the part of Calgary management – and the high expectations that they placed on Baertschi right from his rookie season. Remember, he’s only 22 – and has not yet played three full seasons.
But Johnston believes that Baertschi is on par skill-wise with former Portland players Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Johansen, who are both established NHLers.
“Baertschi came (to Portland) right after them, so I had pretty good comparables and Sven was equally as good as those guys as a junior, with his speed, his intelligence, his playmaking ability,” said Johnston. “It took Niederreiter a setback and now he’s got it … and I still think Sven will be fine.
“When you’re really, really young, coaches and organizations tend to overlook a couple (deficiencies), but when you come (into the NHL), you’ve got to lock those down. There’s no overlooking anymore — you either make it or don’t.”
If you’re given the proper chance.
The Canucks, under new GM Benning, coach Willie Johnston and president Trevor Linden, have demonstrated this season that they are willing to be patient with developing young players. Minor-league coach Green has also demonstrated that he is an astute coach and developer of talent. So Baertschi, who according to Been is extremely excited to play for the Canucks organization, will likely feel more comfortable than he ahs lately – and can gain accordingly.
“Travis (Green) is real excited to get him,” said Benning. “He’s going to Utica and play. And if he gets an opportunity, if we have an injury or something, then he’ll come up and he’ll play for us.”
If Baertschi were to have an extended stint in the minors, that would not be such a bad thing. He has never played more than 26 NHL games in a season, and he has not played more than 41 in an AHL campaign, either.
He has to be given a chance to stay somewhere so that he can work on the upgrades necessary to be a full-time NHL player.
Ultimately, this deal could benefit both teams, because the Flames could parlay the acquired second-round pick into an everyday NHLer in the future, and they, arguably, have less of a need for Baertschi now due to the success of rising young stars like Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. The Canucks have also enjoyed a renaissance under Desjardins following the disastrous season under former coach John Tortorella, when they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. But the Canucks have an older core of veterans and Baertschi will add to a foundation of youth that the club is building through its prospects and future draft picks.
“We have now a group of good young fast, skilled players that are gonna be the foundation of our teams going forward,” said Benning. “What’s happened around here, they’ve had such good teams over the years, and they’ve been so close to winning the Stanley Cup, that sometimes you sacrifice draft picks to buy players at the deadline that you think can make a difference in winning the Cup and stuff. So we’ve had to regroup a little bit that way.”
If Baertschi can come anywhere near to generating the offence that he did in junior in the NHL, Canuck fans will soon forget the high price paid for him.
Shortly after the deadline passed, it was announced that the Canucks had acquired 22-year-old Swiss forward Sven Baertschi from the Calgary Flames for a second-round draft choice. This deal was newsworthy just for the fact that the Canucks made a rare deal with a Pacific Division rival.
Such trades almost never happen, because of fears that they will be harmful to each team’s positions in the standings. Usually, GMs prefer to deal with counterparts in opposing conferences. Sometimes, three-way trades can result in a player going to a divisional or conference rival but, ironically, the Flames initially approached the Canucks.
Vancouver general manager Jim Benning paid a high price, but Baertschi, chosen 13th overall in 2011, is an exceptional talent with tremendous upside – if his junior career is any indication.
“I don’t like giving up draft picks, but I think that in this case, Sven Baertschi, we feel, is gonna be a top-six NHL player for our team some day,” said Benning. “So we weighed getting Sven with what we would get in the second round with our pick and we made a decision: Let’s go ahead and do this. He’s a guy that fits our profile. He’s fast, he’s skilled, and I don’t know what happened with his development in Calgary, but we’re very excited to have him, and he’s going to be a big part of our skill group going forward.”
Baertschi has struggled to gain permanent NHL employment, but his former junior bench boss, Mike Johnston, now coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, told The Calgary Herald earlier this month that the light will soon go on for Baertschi.
“I just think it’s … such a tough league, the NHL,” said Johnston. “Hard for young guys. You can come in, lose your confidence and kind of lose your game. If you’re more of a grinder, a worker, a tough guy, it’s easier. But if you’re a skilled guy trying to figure out your game, it becomes more challenging.
“I’m hoping he can still do it. I believe he can.”
So does Benning. The same goes for Travis Green, coach of Vancouver’s AHL farm team in Utica, N.Y., who was an assistant with Portland during Baertschi’s junior days.
Baertschi had only four points in 15 games with the Flames this season and 25 points in 36 AHL contests with their Adirondack farm team. But in his last WHL season with Portland, he accumulated 33 goals and 61 assists 94 points, after producing 85 points in 66 games the year before.
To someone who saw him play during those two campaigns, it was obvious that Baertschi was well ahead of his peers and had the speed and skill necessary for the NHL. Whether he can handle the rough going remains to be seen.
Johnston was convinced that the Flames still believed in the youngster, but he was wrong. It’s also debatable whether the Flames developed him properly given some of the trials and tribulations that they were going through with coaching and management changes and on-ice struggles prior to this turn-around season in Calgary.
Now in his third season as a full-time pro, Baertschi has yet to play a full season in either the AHL or NHL, splitting time between both. That situation points to a lack of patience on the part of Calgary management – and the high expectations that they placed on Baertschi right from his rookie season. Remember, he’s only 22 – and has not yet played three full seasons.
But Johnston believes that Baertschi is on par skill-wise with former Portland players Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Johansen, who are both established NHLers.
“Baertschi came (to Portland) right after them, so I had pretty good comparables and Sven was equally as good as those guys as a junior, with his speed, his intelligence, his playmaking ability,” said Johnston. “It took Niederreiter a setback and now he’s got it … and I still think Sven will be fine.
“When you’re really, really young, coaches and organizations tend to overlook a couple (deficiencies), but when you come (into the NHL), you’ve got to lock those down. There’s no overlooking anymore — you either make it or don’t.”
If you’re given the proper chance.
The Canucks, under new GM Benning, coach Willie Johnston and president Trevor Linden, have demonstrated this season that they are willing to be patient with developing young players. Minor-league coach Green has also demonstrated that he is an astute coach and developer of talent. So Baertschi, who according to Been is extremely excited to play for the Canucks organization, will likely feel more comfortable than he ahs lately – and can gain accordingly.
“Travis (Green) is real excited to get him,” said Benning. “He’s going to Utica and play. And if he gets an opportunity, if we have an injury or something, then he’ll come up and he’ll play for us.”
If Baertschi were to have an extended stint in the minors, that would not be such a bad thing. He has never played more than 26 NHL games in a season, and he has not played more than 41 in an AHL campaign, either.
He has to be given a chance to stay somewhere so that he can work on the upgrades necessary to be a full-time NHL player.
Ultimately, this deal could benefit both teams, because the Flames could parlay the acquired second-round pick into an everyday NHLer in the future, and they, arguably, have less of a need for Baertschi now due to the success of rising young stars like Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. The Canucks have also enjoyed a renaissance under Desjardins following the disastrous season under former coach John Tortorella, when they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. But the Canucks have an older core of veterans and Baertschi will add to a foundation of youth that the club is building through its prospects and future draft picks.
“We have now a group of good young fast, skilled players that are gonna be the foundation of our teams going forward,” said Benning. “What’s happened around here, they’ve had such good teams over the years, and they’ve been so close to winning the Stanley Cup, that sometimes you sacrifice draft picks to buy players at the deadline that you think can make a difference in winning the Cup and stuff. So we’ve had to regroup a little bit that way.”
If Baertschi can come anywhere near to generating the offence that he did in junior in the NHL, Canuck fans will soon forget the high price paid for him.
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