Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
I think Hartley was a terrible coach and his rep here is based off of one season. But I could be wrong and I’d like to hear what Iginla, Stajan, Jaybo, Russell - vets who played elsewhere - have to say.
|
But it wasn't just the one season.
The year of the rebuild, the Flames started playing well from the halfway point of the season, and even though the losses piled up, they rarely did poorly. How many standing ovations did that team receive at the Saddledome even after a loss?
Then there was the year you acknowledge about the 'one season' - playoffs.
The year after, I will also argue that they played fairly well
when they got decent goaltending as well. They started terribly with the 3-headed goalie monster that couldn't save an easy shot, but once Ramo was sent down and came back up, he provided the Flames with steady goaltending, and again the Flames were playing exceptionally well most nights and were looking like they were pushing to make the playoffs again. Then Ramo got injured, and everything went to hell again.
I am not advocating that Hartley should return - or even that he shouldn't have been fired. If he was 'over the line' with his antics, then it was a good move by Treliving. However, I think he has been the only coach since Darryl to come in here and get a Flames' team to perform above expectations - and do it consistently. That system he implemented was simply the best system that they could play. They were not a good team, and I don't think that they had the talent to play a puck-possession system. Based on the fact that he has won championships in every league he has coached in - including a cup (and not every coach in Colorado was able to win a cup with that amazing team), I would say he is a good coach, and I really wonder what changes he would have done over the years with a better team like we see.
Treliving's mistake was not firing Hartley, it was hiring Gulutzan... and then Peters... and thus far possibly Ward as well. Just like Darryl messed things up by stepping down and hiring Playfair, then Keenan, then Brent Sutter.
What makes a coach good or bad?
For me it is simple:
Bad coaches fail to meet expectations. Give them a good team, and they will have a disappointing season.
Good coaches exceed expectations, period, and Hartley did that.
Calgary needs a good coach. The only one that I am sure (as sure as I can be anyway) that is a proven 'good coach' and is available is Darryl Sutter. Yeah, Boudreau has that sparkling winning record and a bunch of speeches on youtube that you can see, but he has never once had an NHL team under him exceed expectations. Gallant has seen his teams exceed expectations, but is he another Hartley who too quickly wears out his welcome? I don't know, but he seems to get fired quickly and unceremoniously.
I don't know who else would be good. I am sure there are some actual really good 'up and comers' out there as well who can come in and do a great job in Calgary, but I am hesitant on that. Calgary has seen probably more than their fair share of 'up and comers' ever since Don Hay, and they never panned-out for them. Can they find the next Badger Bob? I am sure there is a coach in the NCAA, Juniors or even Europe that is ready to step into the NHL and do well, but there have been so many disappointments.
I really believe that after the relative instability of Gulutzan-Peters-Ward, this team absolutely needs an experienced coach to right the ship, much like they needed that stability in management when Burke was brought-in to right the ship.