Backlund was benched not because he was making mistakes, but because he wasn't generating enough offensively and was afraid to make a mistake.
http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/11/01...ng-offensively
That was the exact reason Hartley gave for the benching but nope can't give him any credit at all for the turnaround in Backlund's offensive game.
The fear of making a mistake was lingering effect that the coaching that Brent Sutter had on him, and Hartley was trying to correct that.
Did talking with people close to him help? Of course but to say Hartley had no role is just being biased and being unable to give credit where it is due.