[GreenLantern2814]

Bob Hartley is a coach in the NHL (Or was, anyway). He knew he had a finite amount of time. He didn't seem the sort to have patience with a veteran like Sarich not doing things he expected of a veteran.

Sarich says he was scratched 11 straight games. Well, as a professional, as a veteran, as someone with a Stanley Cup ring, what is Sarich doing to get back in the lineup? After a month's worth of games off, the coach catches wind that you've had a couple when you shouldn't have, and he throws you in the game.

This is pro sports. What if someone catches an edge in warmup? Now Sarich still has to go in, he's still half in the bag, and he's still unprepared and unprofessional. Maybe he was traded because of his exit interview, but he also was scratched 11 games in a row in year 1 of a 2-year deal.

I like Sarich, he'll always have a place in my heart for the Marleau hit. But he was traded with another malcontent for Shane friggen O'Brien and David Jones. That's what getting 'shot into the sun' actually looks like.

Hartley had won a Stanley Cup. He knew what he expected from his veteran players, and he didn't get that from Sarich. He knew what he expected from his rookies, and he didn't get that from Sven.

He got it from Gio, Brodie, Backlund, Monahan, Johnny, Bennett, Hudler, Russell, Wideman, Byron, Bouma, Jones, even Josh Jooris.

Hartley was here for four years, and I thank him for his service. Had he received Mike Smith level goaltending at any point in his tenure, he might still be the coach.