I'm thinking he may center your second line as early as next season.
- Isles_since_6

I think you may be right. My guess is he starts at 3rd, and then we see him move up the depth chart as he did this year. I have been very pleasantly surprised with his play. Seeing him live was an absolute treat even though we lost 5-1 to SJ that game

Slovakian hockey has been on a downward slide for a while but I think it is due for a comeback. And then you have teams like Slovenia starting to put money into its hockey program. I think we're going to see an increase in parity and an overall increase in teams that participate significantly in hockey. Hope I get to see a Hungarian team in the next 10 years
- bezz44

A couple of Asian countries like China and Japan are starting to take interest too.

Kenins is Latvian
- bezz44

He played for Crawford in the Swiss league, though

Not arguing, they're working their way up to that Slovak/Czech tier for sure. And all I meant was that once you get past the top 8 or so it's basically crap with a few teams with 3 or 4 good players and a bunch of guys who could barely make AHL teams.
- Nucker101

Yep, hockey is gaining momentum in non-traditional markets but at this point the dominant reign of traditional hockey markets continues

Not arguing, they're working their way up to that Slovak/Czech tier for sure. And all I meant was that once you get past the top 8 or so it's basically crap with a few teams with 3 or 4 good players and a bunch of guys who could barely make AHL teams.
- Nucker101

But the worldwide interest from Europe and Asia is growing , so they have a good head start. Switzerland is climbing the charts fast and every year they improve. They have very good hockey programs now

A couple of Asian countries like China and Japan are starting to take interest too.
- VANTEL

These countries clean up at the winter games. Would add a really exciting dynamic to the NHL imo if some of these guys came over

Baerschi has just as good of a chance of making the NHL as someone we would draft @ 46.

The kid is 22 has wheels and good hands. I think he has more of a chance of making the club than Shink .

He may make the NHL he may not. The kid we would have drafted @ 46 May make the NHL ,he may not.
- VANTEL

This from Canucks Army on that topic:

There are definitely some promising CHLers that project to be available around where Vancouver's 2015 2nd rounder will be, but it's not really accurate to say that the quality of players available this season in that range is exceptionally different than in years past. In fact, the only forward that should be available in the second round and seems to have a really strong chance at becoming the player Baertschi still could be is Anthony Beauvillier, and other than that, you're likely looking at a lot of depth and mid-to-low roster guys.

Some of the guys I had on my radar in the middle of the second round other than Beauvillier included D Ryan Pilon, F Dennis Yan, F Nikita Korostelev, D Mitchell Vande Sompel, F Dmytro Timashov, D Nicholas Meloche, D Parker Wotherspoon, D Noah Juulsen, and D Rasmus Andersson. I'm a big fan of Andersson, Vande Sompel, and Pilon in particular, but given his production thus far in his career as well as his pedigree, I'd rate Baertschi as the more promising asset of all of these guys, though I'd be given pause for Beauvillier.

All in all, Calgary is going to be hard pressed to not only find an impact NHLer with the pick Vancouver has dealt them, but to find a better asset than what Sven Baertschi currently is. Flames GM Brad Treliving confirmed on TSN that Baertschi had requested a trade away from the Flames and was unwilling to re-sign with the Flames this offseason as a RFA, so perhaps that had a role in driving his price down too. Given that a player in a similar situation in Brett Connolly netted Tampa Bay two second round picks, Vancouver looks like they came out with a pretty good deal.

These countries clean up at the winter games. Would add a really exciting dynamic to the NHL imo if some of these guys came over
- bezz44

When China takes interest in a sport they usually grow very fast because of money and population. They are years away but they are now looking at hockey programs

This from Canucks Army on that topic:

There are definitely some promising CHLers that project to be available around where Vancouver's 2015 2nd rounder will be, but it's not really accurate to say that the quality of players available this season in that range is exceptionally different than in years past. In fact, the only forward that should be available in the second round and seems to have a really strong chance at becoming the player Baertschi still could be is Anthony Beauvillier, and other than that, you're likely looking at a lot of depth and mid-to-low roster guys.

Some of the guys I had on my radar in the middle of the second round other than Beauvillier included D Ryan Pilon, F Dennis Yan, F Nikita Korostelev, D Mitchell Vande Sompel, F Dmytro Timashov, D Nicholas Meloche, D Parker Wotherspoon, D Noah Juulsen, and D Rasmus Andersson. I'm a big fan of Andersson, Vande Sompel, and Pilon in particular, but given his production thus far in his career as well as his pedigree, I'd rate Baertschi as the more promising asset of all of these guys, though I'd be given pause for Beauvillier.

All in all, Calgary is going to be hard pressed to not only find an impact NHLer with the pick Vancouver has dealt them, but to find a better asset than what Sven Baertschi currently is. Flames GM Brad Treliving confirmed on TSN that Baertschi had requested a trade away from the Flames and was unwilling to re-sign with the Flames this offseason as a RFA, so perhaps that had a role in driving his price down too. Given that a player in a similar situation in Brett Connolly netted Tampa Bay two second round picks, Vancouver looks like they came out with a pretty good deal.
- AlexF

The thing that really perplexis me is. Could they have not moved Baertschi to someone who is not direct competition? Not a rival. I find it hard to believe. How did the long time rivals luck out?

Little confusing.....

So with a healthy lineup does this more or less guarantee that Kennins will be sent back down?

Good day by Benning but surprised that he handcuffed himself by not creating a spot for Kennins.

Sedin Sedin Kassian
Higgins Bonino Vrbata
Matthias Richardson Burrows
Dorsett Horvat Hansen
Vey

When China takes interest in a sport they usually grow very fast because of money and population. They are years away but they are now looking at hockey programs
- VANTEL

I think it mostly is going to have to be about driving interest. If Paul Kariya had had a longer career then I think hockey would have a larger fan base in Japan.

The thing that really perplexis me is. Could they have not moved Baertschi to someone who is not direct competition? Not a rival. I find it hard to believe. How did the long time rivals luck out?

Little confusing.....
- vancity787

I think most buyers wanted someone that would step in and play right away.

I think most buyers wanted someone that would step in and play right away.
- belcherbd

Agreed

So with a healthy lineup does this more or less guarantee that Kennins will be sent back down?

Good day by Benning but surprised that he handcuffed himself by not creating a spot for Kennins.

Sedin Sedin Kassian
Higgins Bonino Vrbata
Matthias Richardson Burrows
Dorsett Horvat Hansen
Vey
- belcherbd

I think it is a certainty that we won't sign all of our UFAs this summer, so I see him landing a full time spot next year and someone else being shipped out as well. That Clendening and Kenins' paperwork to go back to Utica was dealt with today tells me that they will probably end up down their for the AHL playoffs, and will be called up if injuries set in. Seems like Benning is more concerned with Utica's playoff run than the Canucks'

The thing that really perplexis me is. Could they have not moved Baertschi to someone who is not direct competition? Not a rival. I find it hard to believe. How did the long time rivals luck out?

Little confusing.....
- vancity787

Wouldn't surprise me if some non-divisional teams were trying to get him cheap with a 3rd or less talented prospect and Benning came in with a fair offer so they pulled the trigger. Burkie swung the Kessel deal with BOS and Kaberle to MTL, I don't think he cares. I know he's not the GM, but still.

The thing that really perplexis me is. Could they have not moved Baertschi to someone who is not direct competition? Not a rival. I find it hard to believe. How did the long time rivals luck out?

Little confusing.....
- vancity787

Baertschi asked for a trade so that no doubt lowered his value. It's possible the interested parties didn't have the pick or equivalent thereof to offer. It's possible they tried to drum up interest too late. Who knows.

Holy #$@#$ - 18,343 comments

The thing that really perplexis me is. Could they have not moved Baertschi to someone who is not direct competition? Not a rival. I find it hard to believe. How did the long time rivals luck out?

Little confusing.....
- vancity787

Divisional rival thing is overblown IMO. If you are passing up a better deal because you don't want to give said player to a team you play a few more times a year then you are hurting your team. If the trade makes sense, then you pull the trigger

Baertschi asked for a trade so that no doubt lowered his value. It's possible the interested parties didn't have the pick or equivalent thereof to offer. It's possible they tried to drum up interest too late. Who knows.
- AlexF

Great trade, by the way (at least on the face of it - for some reason Sven fell out of favour with management *or maybe just Burke*)

Anyone see this hit by Cassels from last night?


- chunky ham

Head shot?

Divisional rival thing is overblown IMO. If you are passing up a better deal because you don't want to give said player to a team you play a few more times a year then you are hurting your team. If the trade makes sense, then you pull the trigger
- bezz44

Somebody should have told gillis that. Edmonton is still wondering why he didn't take the offer for Schneider.

Just reading saying how benning came in and said he wants a meat and potatoes team but keeps trading away second round picks for players that aren't meat and potatoes.

Head shot?
- docmorgan

Bad angle but looks more shoulder. Will see what the OHL has to say. Reminds me of archibald hit from last year.

I think you may be right. My guess is he starts at 3rd, and then we see him move up the depth chart as he did this year. I have been very pleasantly surprised with his play. Seeing him live was an absolute treat even though we lost 5-1 to SJ that game
- bezz44

I got to see him live as well, at the game in Chicago... even got to see him score, albeit from standing room only

Somebody should have told gillis that. Edmonton is still wondering why he didn't take the offer for Schneider.

Just reading saying how benning came in and said he wants a meat and potatoes team but keeps trading away second round picks for players that aren't meat and potatoes.
- manvanfan

What's wrong with a little salad?

Somebody should have told gillis that. Edmonton is still wondering why he didn't take the offer for Schneider.

Just reading saying how benning came in and said he wants a meat and potatoes team but keeps trading away second round picks for players that aren't meat and potatoes.
- manvanfan

I think that, all things being equal, he still prefers his meat and potatoes but he would also realize what the team needs are. We've needed more skill and speed in our top 6 for a long long time.