Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardodw
Hartley is a stop-gap AHL coach.
2 years ago he had a team of the highest paid veterans who finished 25th in the league.
Of these players Iginla, Tanguay, Bouwmeester, Sarich, Cammalleri, Hudler, Wideman all had below average seasons.
Last year the worst players up to the deadline were Cammalleri, Galiardi, David Jones and Stempniak.
So out of the solid NHL players that Hartley has got to play better than expected are Gio and Cammalleri (after no one wanted him at the trade deadline) and maybe Stajan and Hudler in his 2nd year.
The rest of the players he coached last year were working hard to establish themselves.... very very motivated.
He has not shown that he can be trusted with the near the cap-team the Flames will be in 2 years.
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All the players you listed here 'checked out' mentally half-way through the lockout season. As soon as it looked like Iginla was being traded all the vets just phoned it in from that point onwards. This included a hangover effect into last year.
Don't judge Hartley's ability to coach veterans by his track record with the Spoilt Millionaires Brigade. These young players are entering the league and learning Hartley's system from the start and there's no doubt they're self-motivated and buy into it all just the same. I don't think his track record with the smouldering ruins of a previous regime's roster is remotely relevant to the future here.