Relax guys...
Sven is my fav player so trust me I want him to play.
But he is young and he is driven. He wants to be a top player and perhaps Hartley realizes the best way to help him achieve that is to challenge him to be better.
He has not ever been one of the worst players on the team in any game played. Him sitting is Hartley telling him he knows what he can do and he expects effort to achieve that level of play every shift.
I watch the games and I can see a player who can become a franchise cornerstone in him. So it is important to develop him properly. Hartley has developed plenty of high end players in his days so we should give him the benefit of the doubt.
Remember how good he played right after he sat last game? He is just fighting it right now and as soon as he gets a couple bounces and a few go in for him he will build his confidence. When that happens he will be given more ice time and the sky is the limit for him.
At least we have players like Sven, Monahan, Brodie and even Gaudreau, Gillies, Jankowski and Poirier to worry about to the point where we scrutinize everything that occurs along the way on their road to becoming consistent NHLers.
Point is Hartley is a coach I actually like. He frustrates me in his lineup decisions but I still like the direction he is leading this team so give him the benefit of the doubt.
When Sven turns out great you'll forget all about your Hartley hate...
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