A fresh start

When Sven Baertschi was taken in the first round by the Calgary Flames in 2011, it was with the expectation that he would one day be the dynamic goal scorer that he was while playing with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL.  Four years later, he finds himself a member of the Vancouver Canucks after a trade that sent him there in exchange for a draft pick.  So, what happened?

For a time, it looked like Baertschi was the real deal in an emergency call-up during the 2011-12 season, scoring three times in five games.  However, a coaching change and in time, a General Manager change would have something to do with why he is now a former Calgary Flame, as they would preach being a tough team to play against that would be hard to outwork, and while there are questions about the latter with Baertschi, it is clear that expectations were set too high for him by both the brass and some Flames fans.  The trade means a new start for Baertschi, and though it starts in Utica of the AHL, there is at least one familiar face for Baertschi, as current head coach Travis Green was an assistant coach during Baertschi's time in Portland.  Given Vancouver's penchant for stockpiling young talent on the wings that can score (Hunter Shinkaruk and Jake Virtanen head the list), it just may be the motivation for Baertschi to up his game.