By Mike Cadarette (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: January 9, 2013
Sven Baertschi’s injury hurt a lot more than just him. The Heat have been on a steady decline in the Western Conference standings since his role shifted from one of the Heat’s primary offensive catalysts to an onlooker from the loge section.
Arguably the organization’s most highly-touted prospect, Baertschi’s role with the Heat was simple: score goals, be creative, make plays and don’t be a liability in the defensive zone. The Langenthal, Switzerland native didn’t waste any time following orders. In the Heat’s first two games of the 2012-13 season, Baertschi collected two goals and two assists. In the first month of the season he was doing what many had expected, picking up eight points in the first seven games and having his name show up on the AHL rookie scoring list week after week behind exciting prospects like the Edmonton Oilers’ Justin Schultz and Minnesota Wild’s Mikael Granlund.
Then, in a November 30 game against the Hamilton Bulldogs, Baertschi fell awkwardly into the corner boards with a Bulldogs defender on top of him. The ruling of his injury was whiplash, but the effects were similar to a concussion.
After missing the entire month of December, which included 13 games, Baertschi felt he was ready and so did Troy Ward who inserted him back into the lineup on Friday night. This comes as much to his team’s delight as it does to him.
“Obviously he’s an NHL player,” explained Steve McCarthy. “He gave us a big lift and his first game back I think he played well, generated a lot, [he’s] a very dynamic player . . . He’s a pleasure to play with, that’s for sure.”
Before Baertschi’s injury, the Heat’s record was an outstanding 13-2-2-2, the best in the AHL at that time. Since the absence of Baertschi from the lineup, the Heat have gone 3-8-1-2. If their record doesn’t reflect how much the team has missed the rookie sniper’s ability, consider this: until his injury, Baertschi contributed to 31 per cent of his team’s total offence. Of the Heat’s 55 goals to that point, Baertschi had collected 17 points in 19 games.
What’s more is that the Heat were averaging nearly three goals per game with Baertschi and only 1.38 goals per game without him.
Of course, several variables play into a team struggling to achieve wins. Extensive travel, individual cold streaks, other injuries, and perhaps focus being elsewhere during the busy and exciting holiday season, but Baertschi not being in the lineup certainly didn’t help, especially taking into account his prominence on the score sheet after each game.
Baertschi’s return to the lineup combined with Krys Kolanos’ hot streak of four goals and two assists in his last five games shows a bit of light at the end of the dark tunnel the Heat have been navigating for the last month. Paul Byron is also beginning to heat up, having gathered two goals, one shootout goal and one assist in his last four games.
The most worrisome part about the Heat’s future has yet to come, however. With the NHL CBA negotiations all wrapped up and the season ready to get going, the Abbotsford Heat could find themselves back in that so-called train tunnel again.
If we consider who will be making their first trek over the Rocky Mountains to Calgary, the first thing we’ll notice is that at least two, if not three, of the Heat’s most impactful players will be deleted from the lineup.
Sven Baertschi will be at the top of that list. Flames GM Jay Feaster has stated on numerous accounts that Baertschi has been penciled into the lineup once NHL play resumes. TJ Brodie will likely be heading eastward as well and his dynamic ability to extend the play via his smooth and agile skating will be sorely missed on the ice. It’s also possible that the Heat’s leading goal-scorer, Roman Horak, could be on his way out as well. The former Chilliwack Bruin played 61 games with the Flames last year and has developed nicely in a more advanced offensive role with the Heat. His NHL experience combined with being in mid-season form could be beneficial to his chances of getting called up.
Another wild card option that could get called up is Leland Irving. Irving started in seven games with the Flames at the end of last season and looked like a legitimate backup option in most of his starts. We shouldn’t count out Barry Brust or Danny Taylor from the equation either as they are currently the first and third best goalies in the AHL, respectively. Look for at least one of the three Heat goaltenders to be given a shot at training camp as Miikka Kiprusoff’s backup.
What this means, then, is the Heat could be without their best offensive defenceman, the player with the highest points-per-game on the team, their leading goal scorer and one of the best goalies. For a team struggling with offence lately, that doesn’t bode well for their future or their position in the standings.
The good news: every AHL team will suffer the loss of their best young players as well.
Until then, the Heat will welcome Baertschi back with open arms. Expect the Heat to snap out of the current funk they’re in as the team has gotten a truckload of scoring chances over the past couple of weeks, but have run into a disadvantageous mixture of bad luck and good goaltending from the opposition.
The Heat’s next home set takes place on Friday, January 11, and Saturday, January 12, when they take on the Chicago Wolves at an expected sold out Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.
