Quadrelli Report: Vancouver Canucks beat Oilers, Rafferty, Markstrom shine

An audition for Baertschi

Travis Green was honest when he was asked if these preseason games are an audition for Sven Beartschi to once again earn himself a spot in the Canucks top six. Last night, he was on a line with familiar linemate Bo Horvat.

Back when the Canucks were in their darkest of the dark days, Beartschi and Horvat were few bright spots on those Canucks’ teams who finished near the bottom of the standings year after year.

The two were constantly split up mostly due to Baertschi getting injured, but there was a time when the Canucks top two lines were Henrik and Daniel Sedin with Thomas Vanek on the first line, with Horvat, Baertschi, and Brock Boeser on the second line. With the arrival of Elias Pettersson, Horvat lost Boeser as his winger, and saw a carousel of wingers last season, all of whom weren’t exactly on the same level as Boeser.

With the additions of Tanner Pearson and Josh Leivo last season, it was clear that the Canucks wanted to find some stability for Horvat, while a familiar face in Baertschi looked on from the press box and the injured reserve. The hunt for wingers was still on in the summer, and the Canucks went out and got J.T. Miller and Micheal Ferland this offseason.

Now healthy, Baertschi will be sure to make good on every look with Horvat he’s given, because if he doesn’t, someone else certainly will. Last night, Baertschi got that shot, skating alongside Miller and Horvat. Wouldn’t you know, he made good on it, too.

Great patience from Horvat on this play and great thinking from Baertschi to know to sneak in behind the defence to receive the hard pass from Horvat. Baertschi knows it won’t be easy, but he’s motivated and ready to remind his team that he still has the capabilities to be an effective top-six winger.