"Hey, it's not name dropping if you've been there.

And Troy Ward was. Three years with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Meaning his points of reference carry a certain legitimacy.

Which is tinglingly swell news for the Calgary Flames - and for Sven Baertschi.

"Any time you're asked to take a big step up, it usually has to do with sharing the puck," said Ward, who, 1997-2000, had been part of Kevin Constantine's staff in Pittsburgh. "I remember coaching Jaromir (Jagr) and (Alexei) Kovalev and (Martin) Straka and (Robert) Lang . . . and you learn right away with great players. For me to embrace a young man like (Baertschi), he has to have the ability to share the puck and he has to have a good feel for when to share it.

"I think you'll notice Sven having that ability.""