"It is a painful decision. Hockey is a sport that demands everything from a body. Like most players, I've had a series of injuries that are now taking their toll," Sven Bärtschi states. "After months of training, I realized that my body could no longer perform the way I needed it to. And playing at less than 100 percent is something I can't accept."
Bärtschi's contract with SC Bern would have been valid until the end of the 2024-25 season. The contract was dissolved by mutual agreement.
The Swiss forward was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames. He appeared in 292 NHL games, suiting up for the Flames, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Vegas Golden Knights. After three seasons in the AHL, Bärtschi decided to return to Switzerland.
Last season, he played his first professional game on Swiss soil. In 36 regular-season games, he recorded four goals and ten assists.
