Quote:
Originally Posted by SportsJunky
He said it on NHL Radio just a couple of weeks ago while talking to Kelly Hrudey. Hrudey didn't debate him on it either. I know some people don't like Francis but it was a jarring statement to hear even from him.
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I tend to agree that he was a coach killer in Calgary but I don't think he outright did on purpose. The owners and King made him bigger than the team. Even the really good people change when placed on a pedestal. In his mind he only ever did what he thought was best for the team but at times that clashed with what the head coach wanted and Playfair, Keenan, Sutter, Hartley were powerless when it came to dealing with Iginla as after all the team was built around the guy and his buddies were brought in one after another.
Things are better for both parties now. Iginla now can just focus on playing and not carrying a team and the Flames don't have any players in the locker room with more power than the head coach.