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Baertschi getting to know Canucks

It's still early in his pro hockey career but Sven Baertschi knows he's in for a make-it-or-break-it season with the Vancouver Canucks.

It's still early in his pro hockey career but Sven Baertschi knows he's in for a make-it-or-break-it season with the Vancouver Canucks.

After signing a one-year, one-way contract in July as a restricted free agent, the pressure is on the 22-year-old left winger to earn a spot as a top-six forward with the Canucks, who picked him up late last season in a trade from Calgary.

The Swiss native has always been a point producer throughout his hockey career and that's exactly what the Canucks expect of him. He started training camp Friday morning on a line with Brandon Sutter and Radim Vrbata, a pair of seasoned veterans the Canucks hope will bring out the best in Baertschi.

"Obviously they're great players and right now I'm just trying to fit in there, trying to find the right spots," said Baertschi. "Both of them have great playmaking abilities and of course (Vrbata) is a scorer. Trying to find him out there is my goal right now."

As a condition of his one-way deal, if Baertschi fails to stick with the Canucks he would have to clear waivers to join another NHL team. The Canucks can't return him to the AHL.

"To be honest, that's the first time I've thought about that," said Baertschi. "The only thing I thought about this summer is to try to reach my potential physically and reach my potential on the ice.

"All my career I've been measured by putting up points and once that doesn't happen anymore you try to focus on other things. I've never really had to focus much on the little details defensively as a younger player. Those were things I learned over the last three years and it wasn't easy and I'm still learning."

The Canucks traded a second-round draft pick in 2015 to acquire Baertschi from the Flames. He played most of 2014-15 in the AHL and got called up in late March from the Canucks' affiliate in Utica.

He scored two goals for the Canucks in three regular-season games and also saw action in two playoff games, then went back to Utica after the Canucks were eliminated by the Flames in the first round.

Baertschi, an excellent skater, helped the Comets reach the Calder Cup final, collecting eight goals and 15 points in 21 playoff games as the team's second-leading scorer.

Baertschi says he's looking forward to this weekend's camp in Prince George and spending time with his new teammates.

He's already feeling the support of the Canucks organization.

"I just came in and it was a pretty stressful situation in the (NHL) playoffs and I didn't have much of a chance to bond and get to know the guys," he said. "Now, coming here and spending time together here, that's key for me.

"Having no idea how they play up here, I was happy to have a chance to come and play a few regular-season games to get to know the system. I feel confident right now. Having a group of people that believe in you is huge for me. I'm a big believer if you have the right people around you you're going to be successful. Having a chance to come to Vancouver and do the summer training and getting stronger and faster really paid off and I'm starting to feel really good on the ice."

Canucks assistant coach Glen Gulutzan liked what he saw out of Baertschi on Friday and says the coaches have made it clear to him they trust in his abilities to reach his potential and he doesn't have to fear for his job.

"You see in a lot of young players, they come in and they think, 'If I don't score tonight I'm going to get sent down or go back to junior,'" said Gulutzan. "Really what coaches are looking for is just that maturity to play a solid game and if you do that, those young skilled guys will score eventually.

"I see (that maturity in Baertschi) now, even in the first skate. There's a difference about him and that's just the process of growing up for these young guys."

Baertschi is no stranger to CN Centre. He picked up 67 goals and 179 points in two WHL seasons with the Portland Winterhawks (2010-12) and remembers the long road trips north to play the Cougars.

"It was always fun coming here," he said.

"I remember we came through here on an eastern swing and it was the last game and we drove all the way from here back to Portland (a 16-hour trip)."

Roughly 2,500 Canucks fans played hooky from work or school to watch the team work out and Baertschi appreciated the turnout.

"I was excited out there, having that many fans for a practice, I've never had that personally," said Baertschi. "Seeing the community come out here and enjoy a practice from us, that's fun."