Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
...Hartley comes off as a decent guy in interviews it's nothing personal to me. I just prefer a coach [B]that installs defensive systems that don't yield the worst GAA in the league. I prefer a head coach that doesn't feel the need to dress a goon every single night. I prefer a head coach that doesn't play favourites...
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I think you are naïve if you don't believe that every coach plays favourites. While some of Bob's choices appear perplexing with regard to player and line selections, there shouldn't be anything unexpected about seeing rookie players moved in and out of the lineup as the season progresses. This has much less to do with "playing favourites" and much more to do with what the coaches are trying to install in players. It's easy to criticise these decisions from the outside, but I'm pretty confident that the situation is more complex than it appears.
As to what you prefer from a coach, how much of that stuff honestly matters this season? As far as I can tell, the most important part of this year is player development: teaching players what it takes to be NHL regulars, and instilling them with the right habits, determination and discipline to excel at the highest level. It's too hard to judge how the process is coming along from outside, but by the same token, there is nothing to suggest that the Flames are off track, and that a coaching change is necessary. I think Hartley's shelf-life is pretty short, but by the same token, I also don't expect that there is any urgency for change for another two or three years.