After the players meeting Sunday, saying things had to change, as Cammalleri alluded to yesterday after the win, it takes another full step back.
Something's got to drop soon. Not with some ill-timed intermission rant full of empty threats/promises as we heard a couple years ago from the previous regime.
I don't think Hartley ever had buy in from the vets last year (many of those still here this year) given his patronage appointment from that previous regime (look at Millions' tweet yesterday after he had words with Sarich).
He know's he's likely a lame duck as soon as Burke comes in, and runs the players hard thorough camp and through a decent opening 3 weeks of the season. But, one can only go to the fire and brimstone methods so often.
Injuries set in and the lack of depth shone clearly through. Now, he's forced to manage. He's got vets who've now completely tuned him out, role players that are on the fringe, looking to show enough to stick with the team/in the league next year, goaltending that, (speaking of above mentioned empty promises) had been below average for the most part, a few younger guys showing they have what it takes to stick, and then 1 golden egg in Monahan that has to be handled properly at his young age.
So it's pretty neutral, not much to blame him for, his style and methods were brought in by an acquaintance to handle a veteran team (after himself making the playoffs past the first round 1 time since the early 2000's) and it's now a 180 and he's stuck here. But no credit at all should be given, either for lack of overall cohesiveness and getting the doors blown off more than anytime in the past 12-15 years.
Thankfully, there is Burke to run the PR around the league and with the prospects, not the bumbling previous regime to make the organizational situation worse as was done last year. Full confidence he'll act, as this has to be eating him up inside; the Sochi distractions hopefully don't prevent him from doing a deal or whatever, if it's there/is time.
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