Quote:
Originally Posted by MacFlame
However, in instances where those players are not playing well, the opportunity didn't go to Sven, which is unfortunate and likely (Sven) seen as the writing on the wall.
Like I said, Hartley has done an amazing job with the prospects, but I don't think he did with Sven. It happens.
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I guess that's the question then, does Hartley give a player like Sven more ice time to give him a chance and hope he breaks out, or do you wait for him to show you something and then move him up?
I'm a fan of the latter, because I think if you give a player prime ice time when he doesn't really deserve it then other players take notice and you can lose the respect of your players. A guy like Jooris clearly forced Hartley's hand, Sven didn't. I don't think that's a coaching issue, I think that a player's responsibility. So many young players getting chances with this team over the past year or two, Sven had all the opportunities in the world to force the team to keep him and give him decent ice time, he just never got to the point where he played well enough to keep him over other younger players. He was just 'meh' for me most of the time, it's too bad. With a young rebuilding team this was probably the perfect opportunity for Sven to stick in the NHL full time, he just couldn't get it done. Maybe he will in Vancouver.