​Once upon a time, Sven Baertschi was regarded as a fixture in the Vancouver Canucks’ top six. After retiring from professional hockey following the 2022–23 season, however, the forward pivoted to coaching. Earlier this week, it was revealed that Baertschi has moved up from his position as an assistant coach with the Portland Winterhawks to serve as their associate coach for the 2026–27 season.
Baertschi joined the Winterhawks as a coach beginning with the 2024–25 season, marking his first formal coaching role. His connection to the WHL runs even deeper, as he spent two seasons of junior hockey with Portland in 2010–11 and 2011–12. He made a strong impression in his rookie year with the Winterhawks, tallying 85 points in 66 games, and followed that up with 94 points in just 47 games the next season, capped by a 34-point playoff run.
Drafted 13th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2011, Baertschi spent four seasons within the Flames organization before being traded to the Canucks for a second‑round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. That pick eventually became defenseman Rasmus Andersson of the Vegas Golden Knights. On January 20, 2019, Baertschi, then with Vancouver, skated against the Detroit Red Wings at Rogers Arena. The winger went on to spend nearly seven seasons with the Canucks, reaching a career-high 35 points in the 2016–17 season, though injuries in the later years helped push him out of Vancouver’s plans. After a season with the Golden Knights, he returned to Switzerland to conclude his playing career.
The Winterhawks’ 2026–27 lineup currently features defensemen Avery Laliberte and Stevie Grumley, along with goaltender Ondrej Stebetak. For ongoing news and insights, be sure to bookmark THN’s Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your Google News favorites for the latest reports, exclusive interviews, and in-depth breakdowns. Don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with fellow fans in our forum. This article first appeared on The Hockey News.
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