Whatever Happened to Ex-Canucks Forward Sven Baertschi?

There was a time when it looked like Sven Baertschi was going to be a big part of the future for both the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames took him 13th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, and the Swiss winger had all the things teams look for in a young scorer.

Baertschi had the tools to be a high-end scorer.

He had soft hands, good speed, and that calm European hockey sense that made you think there was something special there. He showed flashes in Calgary, but it was really in Vancouver where Canucks fans started to believe he had found his place. He could score. He could make plays. He had a knack for finding open space and creating chances.

He became a fan favourite, but then the concussions started. The big one came in October 2018 against Vegas. Baertschi took a hit that led to post-concussion syndrome and ended up costing him most of the 2018-19 season. He worked his way back, but there was always that question: would he ever really get back to the player he was before? The answer, unfortunately, was no.

By the time he became a free agent and signed a short-term deal with Vegas, the offensive game that once made him a first-round pick had started to disappear. He spent most of that season in the AHL, trying to find his way again.

Baertschi took one last shot at professional hockey back home in Switzerland.

In 2022, Baertschi decided to go home and signed a three-year deal with SC Bern in Switzerland’s top league. On paper, it made a lot of sense. He could play closer to family and friends, continue his career, and maybe enjoy a few more years of hockey in a less physical environment.

But that chapter didn’t last long. After a quiet season in which he recorded just 14 points in 36 games, Baertschi announced his retirement in August 2023 at age 30.

The concussions weren’t the only reason, but they were clearly a major part of the story. The repeated head injuries changed the equation. At some point, the risk of continuing outweighed the reward. And that’s the tough part about hockey careers. Sometimes it isn’t about talent. Sometimes it’s about timing, health, and things a player simply can’t control.

So what is Baertschi doing now?

He’s still around the game. As of July 2026, Baertschi is back behind the bench, taking on a coaching role with the Portland Winterhawks, his former WHL team. The organization promoted him to associate coach for the 2026-27 season, which makes this a pretty good full-circle story. This is where Baertschi’s hockey journey started. Now he gets to help the next group of young players chase the dream he once had.

His story is a reminder that the NHL path rarely goes exactly as planned. A player can be a first-round pick, show flashes of being a top contributor, and then have everything change because of one injury.

Canucks fans probably hoped Baertschi would become something more. The skill was there. The potential was there. But hockey can be a funny game.

Baertschi’s career didn’t go where he likely would have wanted it to go.

His playing career didn’t end the way anyone expected when he was a highly regarded prospect. But Baertschi is still involved, still giving back, and still part of the hockey world. For him, this is simply the next chapter.