I will jump in with the Bennett argument a little. Bennett has looked good (mostly) but hasn't been getting on the stat sheet much. This is much better than Bennett just looking bad and overwhelmed, of course. However, remember when Hartley sometimes demoted Backlund to the 4th line, or scratched him completely because he wasn't producing? Remember when Hartley had the talk with Monahan about worrying too much about defence and not putting up enough points? Remember even when he had a talk with Wotherspoon about "Don't limit yourself to being a defensive-defencemen, you could be a good 2-way guy"? Hartley is a guy that has very high expectations and demands that his players perform - especially rookies. I think he challenges them the right way.
Who has failed under his watch? Baertschi - who doesn't look much like an NHL'er anyways. Hartley has a long history of doing wonders with rookies/very young players. Tanguays, Drury, Hejduk, Kovalchuk, Heatley, Monahan, Gaudreau - those were all 'superstars' (or are quickly on their way to becoming one) under his tenure. Also solid role guys like Jooris seem to blossom under Hartley. It is fine to have a differing opinion than Hartley - nobody is above criticism and nobody is perfect. However, after 2 games of reduced minutes (and if only Bennett doesn't respond tonight), I think it is extremely premature to start labeling Hartley as a guy who is bad for rookies. His experience and results more than speak for themselves. I just really find it absolutely hilarious that people still think he is terrible for rookies. It is an incredibly laughable comment when you actually consider the facts!
As for the game tonight...
Rangers are a good team that had a tough game last night, and lost in a SO. Tough to predict how teams respond after. Hopefully they will come out flat-footed and the Flames can take advantage. Flames might be the ones that come out a bit flat after the layoff. The Flames last year (IIRC anyways) were much better in B2B games themselves. Flames also did relatively poorly against the Eastern teams last season. They lost to Washington already (though, in all fairness, the Flames were hardly looking like up until the last game). Hopefully they have cast-off all heebie jeebies that were messing them up, made a couple of sacrifices to the hockey Gods (something involving an Oiler hopefully) and all is right in their own game now. Flames will need to do better against the Eastern teams this year. Vancouver feasted on them last year (also, IIRC). HOpefully the Flames blow them out 15-0. Let the Erixon curse forever haunt them!
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