Vancouver Canucks Year in Review: Grading 2015 X-Factors
By David Joun
#3 Sven Baertschi (Grade: B+)
"The reason Sven Baertschi is on the X-Factor list is that his play will determine the fate of the secondary scoring. There is so much potential in his speedy, creative, yet patient game, that now that we see him being a solid body-banger, his role is so versatile."
Here is the part about body-banging coming true. Maybe I should not have encouraged him.
Baertschi out of the game. I think he used up his special powers doing this: pic.twitter.com/Mf5j5rTKnA
— Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) December 29, 2015
A playmaker is no good when nobody can finish his chances. That being said, a finisher is no good without a play to finish. Talking about Vrbata and Baertschi, of course.
Sven’s 11 points in 32 games is far short of the 45 points I hoped he would have. Perhaps I can justify myself with that fact that Vrbata was snake-bitten for so long, Sutter has been out of the line-up for weeks, Bo Horvat is being used defensively, and rookie Jared McCann is struggling under injury-induced pressure.
But Baertschi is having a good year on the possession metrics. 51.3 percent Fenwick For is the highest he has ever played.
What does this mean? Baertschi is making himself a defensive upside, one much needed in Sutter’s absence. Good for him.
Verdict on Baertschi: Yes, his play is versatile. But the secondary scoring has been non-existent, partly to blame him. His question remains unanswered, as the team’s secondary scoring died out collectively.
Next: Matt Bartkowski