Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardodw
Hartley had a great year...... with 80% of his roster not being career NHLers with a couple of million in the bank and solid contracts that get them paid millions more no matter how they play.
He had basically the easiest job in the NHL last year motivating his players to play all out as there were only a few that weren't a few bad games from going down to play for the Heat.
This year or next when more of the Flames are all on 3+ year contracts... will be Hartley's test.... He totally failed in his first year with Bouwmeester, Iginla, Kipper , Cammalleri, Hudler, Tanguay, Wideman all being in a position where there was very little Hartley could threaten them with.
King as the Flames AHL coach would be on hot standby.
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Hartley was the new kid in town with a very veteran roster that were set in their ways and were given anything they asked for. Hartley's boss was also the farthest thing from a hockey mind.
So with that tandem, who's going to back him up? If he loses the room, he's worthless in the position and loses his job.
FFWD to a year later and most of those vets have been shipped out, there's new hockey blood upstairs, and a new addendum added to the systems: Play your ass off, or you don't play.
If Hartley is still kicking around 3 years from now, and the big contracts are in, the memo remains the same. Players won't be running this team again any time soon.