Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Is Bob Hartley the right coach for this team?

Calgary4LIfe · 10-25-2013, 04:11 PM

Whistle is nailing it all on the head for me with how I see things.

I would just like to add that with the addition of everything he says, you still have to do your best as an organization to manage your assets well.

This means that if an opportunity comes to trade for a Colborne type prospect on the cheap, you do it, even if it pushes another deserving rookie down the depth chart and onto the Heat.

You also have to give your existing vets ice time - to help shoulder the load and work your rookies in the right way (i.e. not the Edmonton way - make them earn their icetime, not just let them get them in over their heads) AND allow the vets to showcase themselves.

I think the Flames' plan for rebuilding is to trade a few additional vets and not re-sign/acquire as many for next season. I truly see next season as the 'bottoming out' zone. I think Glencross could very well become one of those players (whether the Flames are leaning one way or the other, they would be pretty dumb not to look at all their options). The better the vets do, the more assets the Flames can reap from trading them.

I think this year they went shopping for hard-working vets to not only shoulder the load, but also provide some leadership for the rookies to show them what it takes to play in the NHL. Next season, there will be fewer vets (though I imagine there will still be solid veteran presence).

Benching Baertschi was not such a horrible move. It is part of developing a player. Hartley is a guy that has a reputation for developing players. Sure, he loves the hard-nosed guys like McGrattan (whom he makes no secret of having a man-crush on), but he also did a heck of a job developing guys like Tanguay, Hejduk and arguably Kovalchuk to name a few. I didn't like Baertschi being benched, but historically there is enough experience and a proven track record from Hartley that I trust what he is doing.

Meritocracy is part of the culture. However, you still have to properly manage assets, and properly develop them. If that means that some high-flying rookie now or in the future has to sit out a game now and then, so be it. Sven is responding the right way thus far, and I expect him to keep responding that way. Vets are going to be pushed out soon enough.

10-25-2013, 04:11 PM	#257
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	Whistle is nailing it all on the head for me with how I see things. I would just like to add that with the addition of everything he says, you still have to do your best as an organization to manage your assets well. This means that if an opportunity comes to trade for a Colborne type prospect on the cheap, you do it, even if it pushes another deserving rookie down the depth chart and onto the Heat. You also have to give your existing vets ice time - to help shoulder the load and work your rookies in the right way (i.e. not the Edmonton way - make them earn their icetime, not just let them get them in over their heads) AND allow the vets to showcase themselves. I think the Flames' plan for rebuilding is to trade a few additional vets and not re-sign/acquire as many for next season. I truly see next season as the 'bottoming out' zone. I think Glencross could very well become one of those players (whether the Flames are leaning one way or the other, they would be pretty dumb not to look at all their options). The better the vets do, the more assets the Flames can reap from trading them. I think this year they went shopping for hard-working vets to not only shoulder the load, but also provide some leadership for the rookies to show them what it takes to play in the NHL. Next season, there will be fewer vets (though I imagine there will still be solid veteran presence). Benching Baertschi was not such a horrible move. It is part of developing a player. Hartley is a guy that has a reputation for developing players. Sure, he loves the hard-nosed guys like McGrattan (whom he makes no secret of having a man-crush on), but he also did a heck of a job developing guys like Tanguay, Hejduk and arguably Kovalchuk to name a few. I didn't like Baertschi being benched, but historically there is enough experience and a proven track record from Hartley that I trust what he is doing. Meritocracy is part of the culture. However, you still have to properly manage assets, and properly develop them. If that means that some high-flying rookie now or in the future has to sit out a game now and then, so be it. Sven is responding the right way thus far, and I expect him to keep responding that way. Vets are going to be pushed out soon enough.