Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - If Hartley is fired, who would replace him?

Calgary4LIfe · 11-09-2015, 11:53 AM

I actually do wonder about how 'hard' Bob Hartley is. Yes, he is absolutely a very demanding coach. However, everything you read about him also paints a picture of enormous support and even 'cheerleading'.

Make a huge mistake, or show a lack of commitment, and Hartley definitely goes after you. However, he is a teacher and a motivator. It seems he does both. Somewhat like if you could clone a Darryl Sutter with a Bob Johnson.

All coaches get fired - Darryl Sutters and Bob Johnsons (and Scotty Bowmans) included. I just think that perhaps his coaching style doesn't get that worn out as quickly as people may think.

Even then, with the 'hard line coaches' seem to last longer than people think. Hitchcock just passed his 4 year mark with St. Louis. Though one could argue they are underachieving, they still play a very 'Hitchcock-like' game and I would say goaltending (and now the cap) is keeping them from taking the next step.

Darryl Sutter is approaching 4 years. One could make the argument that last season he 'lost the room', but thus far it sure doesn't look that way at all, and it is more plausible that all the distractions the Kings went through were a bigger reason for their fall, in conjunction with just being a tired team. They are definitely a team right now that don't seem to have tuned out Darryl.

Joel Quenneville is yet another of these 'hard-ass' coaches, and he has been with Chicago for the last 7 years. Success trumps anything, but even then, the 'tuning out' of these hard-ass coaches is perhaps not exactly a given.

All 3 of the above coaches are deeply respected by the players. I think the best coaches in the NHL are the ones that are indeed 'hard', but also fair and build players up at the same time as destroying them, and always seem to have their players' backs in the media, while also being competent. Players respect this, and I think that players don't tune them out.

However, be a hard coach, and a bit incompetent, or don't support your players - yeah, you aren't going to last at all. I would say Hartley isn't 'harder' than the 3 I listed above, and you can hear him publicly praising his players and often defending them. You just don't tune-out coaches like that.

He is demanding. But he will also give you multiple chances and try his best to build you up into a better player. He praised Monahan for being so good defensively, but demanded he put up better numbers. Same thing with Backlund. He even did the same thing with Wotherspoon (the whole "don't limit yourself in just being good defensively. You can be a good 2-way guy" speech).

11-09-2015, 11:53 AM	#130
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I actually do wonder about how 'hard' Bob Hartley is. Yes, he is absolutely a very demanding coach. However, everything you read about him also paints a picture of enormous support and even 'cheerleading'. Make a huge mistake, or show a lack of commitment, and Hartley definitely goes after you. However, he is a teacher and a motivator. It seems he does both. Somewhat like if you could clone a Darryl Sutter with a Bob Johnson. All coaches get fired - Darryl Sutters and Bob Johnsons (and Scotty Bowmans) included. I just think that perhaps his coaching style doesn't get that worn out as quickly as people may think. Even then, with the 'hard line coaches' seem to last longer than people think. Hitchcock just passed his 4 year mark with St. Louis. Though one could argue they are underachieving, they still play a very 'Hitchcock-like' game and I would say goaltending (and now the cap) is keeping them from taking the next step. Darryl Sutter is approaching 4 years. One could make the argument that last season he 'lost the room', but thus far it sure doesn't look that way at all, and it is more plausible that all the distractions the Kings went through were a bigger reason for their fall, in conjunction with just being a tired team. They are definitely a team right now that don't seem to have tuned out Darryl. Joel Quenneville is yet another of these 'hard-ass' coaches, and he has been with Chicago for the last 7 years. Success trumps anything, but even then, the 'tuning out' of these hard-ass coaches is perhaps not exactly a given. All 3 of the above coaches are deeply respected by the players. I think the best coaches in the NHL are the ones that are indeed 'hard', but also fair and build players up at the same time as destroying them, and always seem to have their players' backs in the media, while also being competent. Players respect this, and I think that players don't tune them out. However, be a hard coach, and a bit incompetent, or don't support your players - yeah, you aren't going to last at all. I would say Hartley isn't 'harder' than the 3 I listed above, and you can hear him publicly praising his players and often defending them. You just don't tune-out coaches like that. He is demanding. But he will also give you multiple chances and try his best to build you up into a better player. He praised Monahan for being so good defensively, but demanded he put up better numbers. Same thing with Backlund. He even did the same thing with Wotherspoon (the whole "don't limit yourself in just being good defensively. You can be a good 2-way guy" speech).