Is Bob Hartley the right coach for this team? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

bluck · 10-07-2013, 07:53 AM

I was at the game last night and it was pretty obvious that one of the reasons why we lost was because we got out coached... especially in the third period. It was clear that Torts saw what he was doing was not working so he adapted and split up the Sedins and it produced results. What does Hartley do? He shoves McGrattan out there and lines him up against Sedin with the game on the line in the 3rd period. Are you kidding me?! I think minor league coaches would have more sense then that. Hartley has also made a few head scratching moves before in the past. So what are your thoughts? Is he the right coach for this team? I personally don't see him as a Brian Burke rebuilding type of guy but I would love to get some other opinions.

Caged Great · 10-07-2013, 08:00 AM

I think he's doing a very good job on getting them to play a more successful forechecking game. They are doing most of the little things right. Most of the goals that have been scored on us have been because of poor defensive play by a wide range of players and mediocre goaltending. That's more of a talent issue more than anything else.

We are going to suck, but as long as he teaches them to give a similar effort level in each game, then they will learn good habits, which will be good in a couple years.

dissentowner · 10-07-2013, 08:01 AM

I think he is and I think his coaching is the reason we have 4 points in 6 games. He has a team that by all means should be getting owned every game and having them compete with high energy. He has also won a SC and took a team overseas that was supposed to be terrible to a championship. Even if you decide he is not the right guy you have to be able to replace him with somebody better and I don't see anybody currently available that would be a big name upgrade.

Goodlad · 10-07-2013, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I think he is and I think his coaching is the reason we have 4 points in 6 games. He has a team that by all means should be getting owned every game and having them compete with high energy. He has also won a SC and took a team overseas that was supposed to be terrible to a championship. Even if you decide he is not the right guy you have to be able to replace him with somebody better and I don't see anybody currently available that would be a big name upgrade.

I hear Laviolette is going to be available soon

Fighting Banana Slug · 10-07-2013, 08:02 AM

Overall, I think the team is playing hard for him. They aren't the most physical, but they are backchecking and playing a 200 foot game which is all we can ask out of this group. I don't think Hartley was outcoached. If he had the Sedins on his team, he probably would have won.

Puppet Guy · 10-07-2013, 08:03 AM

the "hire Peter Laviolette" movement starts now?

Bourque's Twin · 10-07-2013, 08:07 AM

I think Hartley is the right guy. He is really emphasizing hard work and teamwork and he's building a new identity.

He's done a stellar job so far this season getting 4 out of 6 possible points, all against good teams during a 3 games in 4 nights stint.

Erick Estrada · 10-07-2013, 08:07 AM

Pretty early for this thread no? He's going to get the full season and I imagine he will be evaluated at the end of the season by Burke who is free to make changes he sees fit. Key for him will be how he works with the young players and how the team competes. For the most part I feel the team has played pretty hard for him but the absence of any defensive structure has been a major issue going back to last season. That has to be worked out as I feel another season being amongst the worst in the league may hurt his chances of returning for year 3 of that contract.

EM11 · 10-07-2013, 08:10 AM

4 of 6 points from this group is a fantastic start. Taking a microscope to individual line matchups is probably the wrong analytical approach for Hartley's value this season. I don't think that was the reason the Flames lost last night.

kehatch · 10-07-2013, 08:11 AM

I think he made some bone head moves. But he is also getting the team to play hard, play to a system, and he is getting strong production from most of his guys.

He isn't going to get fired when a team that should have none got 4 of 6 points so far and arguably deserves 5 of 6. Nor should he.

Resolute 14 · 10-07-2013, 08:12 AM

"Hey, my two best players are playing like garbage, I should split them up" is hardly a Jack Adams Award winning move. It was, in fact, the obvious solution when your team is simply going through the motions like Vancouver did in the first two periods.

The McGrattan point is fair, and when I saw him on the ice before that third goal, I wanted him to change quickly. Unfortunately, Grats skated right by the bench, then tried to go through Sedin rather than chip off the boards. I like McGrattan, but he shouldn't be out there in those situations.

Vinny01 · 10-07-2013, 08:15 AM

Hartley is the right guy. The flames have been great 3 games in and have scored 12 goals getting 4 of 6 points. This has been a dream start to the year and big props to Bob for the culture of the team

Erick Estrada · 10-07-2013, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Hartley is the right guy. The flames have been great 3 games in and have scored 12 goals getting 4 of 6 points. This has been a dream start to the year and big props to Bob for the culture of the team

Is the change in culture due to Hartley or the old leadership core no longer with the team?

renny · 10-07-2013, 08:31 AM

A bit early for this no? c'mon they're 4/6 points and the Flames have been playing inspired hockey. I don't mind the fact that the team lost due to mistakes, mistakes can be worked on and fixed. At least I can see a lot of effort from the team, if there was no effort that would be a problem.

FlamesAddiction · 10-07-2013, 08:36 AM

Considering the team, I think the results have been fine. In fact, I think he had them playing better than expected after the blow up last season.

He deserves at least one full season before a fair evaluation can be made.

Savvy27 · 10-07-2013, 08:36 AM

I didn't have a chance to see the game live, so I saw it after reading the PGT and I think some people are confused about what happened. Hartley put the fourth line out against a different line to get the puck in deep and create some energy (which they did), McGrattan got caught on the ice a little longer than his linemates and the Canucks had changed by then.

It was a very easy play for McGrattan to make as he had Sven wide open for a safe chip out of the zone and he made a mistake. I really don't think that one is on the coach. Ordinarily McGrattan is a reliable guy who makes safe plays and works in the defensive zone (many were complimenting his backchecking after the Blue Jackets game). I don't think the Flames fourth line is a unit that you have to hold off the ice in the last five minutes.

No issues with Hartley as far as that goes. Actually, I've been impressed with him this season other than the active instruction for the D-men to be sliding on rushes all the time (they have been practicing it).

chopper89 · 10-07-2013, 08:37 AM

Yes, I wholeheartedly think Hartley is the right guy this year..and probably for a couple years of a rebuild.

Here's why:
-He's a 'player's coach'- a guy that is very enthusiastic and positive, while doing a decent job of building a meritocracy for playing time/linemates. I think a young team like ours needs to build on their positives. They're not Darryl Sutter/Mike Keenan's Flames of a few years ago, that needed to be kicked when they failed because they were underachieving.

Hartley is also an offensive minded coach- which, for most of us, means more exciting hockey to watch. That's pretty important too in a rebuild, as this is still a business that's based on ticket sales. I know I'd rather watch a 5-4 OT Loss than a 2-0 loss any day.

Add in the fact other posters have already mentioned around how the team is actually looking pretty good this year so far and might surprise people already this season- and it seems like questioning Hartley now doesn't make sense.

Textcritic · 10-07-2013, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Is the change in culture due to Hartley or the old leadership core no longer with the team?

I expect both had a huge impact, and I don't think one can dismiss one in favour of the other for the culture change.

...and I think that Hartley is doing just fine. I believe that the enthusiasm that we see from the team as a whole probably translates from his own heart-on-sleeve sense of passion.

kyuss275 · 10-07-2013, 08:40 AM

Was not sold on him last year but i understand he had a bunch of millionaires wanting to do their own thing.

Have to give him the full year. I like how approached pre-season and its paying off on the ice right now. Be interesting if the players keep to his game plan when they start losing or if he loses the room.

Also hard to judge Hartely when he was given a bottom pairing d-men that should not be in the NHL. Add in 3 back-up goalies, and no 1st line forward talent and its easy going forward to give him excuses.

Calgary4LIfe · 10-07-2013, 08:41 AM

Hartley at this point has done a tremendous job in getting the Flames ready for the season.

He is just the right mix of the old-school 'hard nosed tough coach', mixed in with a good measure of positivity.

Considering where the Flames are at in their cycle, and based with expectations for the season, Hartley is one of the last people in the organization that should be questioned at this point. He is doing a GREAT job.