Who's your coach?

[Da_Chief]

I don't see what Hartley has done to keep his job either regardless he can stick around till we get some talent and then get a proper coach.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Greg Gilbert

This is one of the very few things that could ever happen that would make me walk away from the Flames.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Wow.

I knew there was a good portion of people on here who wants to keep Hartley, but in 40+ posts it's like 99% in favour of keeping him.

I'm in favour of keeping Hartley as well (for the time being), but I'm just a little surprised by the overwhelming majority.

[bluck]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Wow.

I knew there was a good portion of people on here who wants to keep Hartley, but in 40+ posts it's like 99% in favour of keeping him.

I'm in favour of keeping Hartley as well (for the time being), but I'm just a little surprised by the overwhelming majority.

This is CP.. Wait a month or two and let's see how "popular opinion" changes

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Wow.

I knew there was a good portion of people on here who wants to keep Hartley, but in 40+ posts it's like 99% in favour of keeping him.

I'm in favour of keeping Hartley as well (for the time being), but I'm just a little surprised by the overwhelming majority.

The coach haters are usually a very vocal subset of the fanbase. Their noise makes them seem in greater number than they are.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by bluck

This is CP.. Wait a month or two and let's see how "popular opinion" changes

I think Burke's praise of Hartley has certainly swayed quite a few people. I started an almost identical thread a month or so ago and the reaction was a little more half and half from what I can tell.

I'm still of the opinion that I don't think he's going to stick around very long, but aside from Laviolette I don't know anyone I'd rather. I originally thought Ward, but I've softened on that. I think he might be best as an AHL guy, at least for our situation.

[Table 5]

Hartley squeezes about as much effort out of this team as Brian Sutter did back in the 90s. It doesn't really matter what legendary coach would be behind the bench right now, the results wouldn't be much better.

In 2/3 years when the message starts getting old, and the players start getting better and you need to take the next step, you might want to think about a change. But now, there's no reason to shake things up.

My only reservation is his favoring of vets over younger kids in certain situations. I hope he's as much of a teacher as he is a taskmaster.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Greg Gilbert

Terry Crisp.

[Poe969]

Is. Crawford available?

[Fire]

Bringing in a new coach at this point is just setting them up for failure. Might as well keep Hartley for next season, at least the Flames are working hard.

[neo45]

Might as well be Hartley for next year


But I wouldn't say he is "my" coach

[Northendzone]

Dallas Eakins should be available to coach an NHL team next season........

I think that Hartley has done a fine job with the team.......I say keep him around for a while longer......personally I'd be surprised if any of the current brain trust is around one we acquire some "stars".....

[ricardodw]

This year Hartley has basically got a team that has about half the team that is solid NHLers. The other half are bubble players and likely would have trouble catching on with another NHL team. It is relatively easy to get these guys to play hard as the 500k plus money they are making is real world money......

This year Hartley got an under talented team and for the most part they have performed as they were expected.... 27th in payroll and 28th in performance.

The scary thing was last year where Hartley had one of the highest paid teams (basically right to the cap) in the league and had them in 26th spot when Iginla got traded.

He doesn't get near enough of the best (highest paid financial secure) players to play up to their contracts.

Out of the Flames highest paid forwards:
Cammalleri, Mike
Hudler, Jiri
Jones, David
Stajan, Matt
Glencross, Curtis
Stempniak, Lee

There is only Hudler that is actually playing up to his salary this year.... He didn't last year.

On defense Wideman and Smid are not playing up to their salaries... SOB definitely did not.

Gio and Brodie are.

Out of 11 Flames making more than 2M / year only 3
Hudler, Gio and Brodie are playing up to their salaries and Brodie is on his first big contract and not set for life yet.

It is always a fall back that Hartley (along with all failing coaches) say that their best players have to be the best players... The good coaches work to make this happen.

Hartley is not a good coach.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

This year Hartley has basically got a team that has about half the team that is solid NHLers. The other half are bubble players and likely would have trouble catching on with another NHL team. It is relatively easy to get these guys to play hard as the 500k plus money they are making is real world money......

This year Hartley got an under talented team and for the most part they have performed as they were expected.... 27th in payroll and 28th in performance.

The scary thing was last year where Hartley had one of the highest paid teams (basically right to the cap) in the league and had them in 26th spot when Iginla got traded.

He doesn't get near enough of the best (highest paid financial secure) players to play up to their contracts.

Out of the Flames highest paid forwards:
Cammalleri, Mike
Hudler, Jiri
Jones, David
Stajan, Matt
Glencross, Curtis
Stempniak, Lee

There is only Hudler that is actually playing up to his salary this year.... He didn't last year.

On defense Wideman and Smid are not playing up to their salaries... SOB definitely did not.

Gio and Brodie are.

Out of 11 Flames making more than 2M / year only 3
Hudler, Gio and Brodie are playing up to their salaries and Brodie is on his first big contract and not set for life yet.

It is always a fall back that Hartley (along with all failing coaches) say that their best players have to be the best players... The good coaches work to make this happen.

Hartley is not a good coach.

I think a lot of last year was that the high end Flames basically ran the room. Add to the fact there was a lot of coach turnover recently and I'm not sure anyone would have done really well as coach. I agree Hartley failed in that scenario, but I don't think it's all on him or saying he's a bad coach for all situations.

The funny thing is, Hartley was able to get the high paid superstar veterans in Colorado to win, so I also don't think it's all about young players vs veteran players and stars. Just bad timing. Thrown into an impossible situation with a group that was starting to tune out their coaches.

As it stands now, Hartley has been good for the young guys this year. As well, it's about time we had a little consistency in that position. Both cause the guys are young, and because we haven't in a while. He definitely has my vote. I wouldn't be against exploring the situation again in two years, but I think he's earned a little time.

[Timbo]

Hearing Brian Burke praise Bob Hartley is no surprise. Burke realises that the roster is not very strong and Hartley works them hard.
So Hartley is meeting Burke's performance parameters.

However, there will come a time when "hard work" must translate into wins.

Is that this year? Probably not... unless BB makes substantial changes in the remaining trade days.
This is why Hartley is safe for the time being.

Once Burke or his selected GM have given Bob Hartley the tools they will expect that to translate into wins, how many wins and in what expected time frame is the question.
Brian Burke knows the answer but he's not telling.

[FakenHaken]

I believe our Head Coach when we are finally ready already has an NHL gig at the moment. Hartley is nothing more than a stop gap measure. At some point Babcock, Bylsma, Quenneville will be a quick exit in 2 or 3 years (My prediction only) and Management will point to them having lost the room and a change is required.

[troutman]

I predict Hartley will still be here when things turn around. He could be our coach for a long time.

[ricardodw]

There is a real danger in keeping Hartley:

1) Veteran UFA's will likely not want to sign with the Flames to play for Hartley.

2) The Flames will tank again and get another lottery pick. That might seem to be a good idea.... 3 top picks in a row.... but that is getting close to the Oiler scenario and it might be hard to stop at 3.


I think there was a reason that Hartley was not in the NHL for 6 years.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

There is a real danger in keeping Hartley:

1) Veteran UFA's will likely not want to sign with the Flames to play for Hartley.

2) The Flames will tank again and get another lottery pick. That might seem to be a good idea.... 3 top picks in a row.... but that is getting close to the Oiler scenario and it might be hard to stop at 3.


I think there was a reason that Hartley was not in the NHL for 6 years.

Ehhh, I think you're being overly dramatic.

One, we didn't really tank, we're right where we should be. Two, we don't need vets right away anyway.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

There is a real danger in keeping Hartley:

1) Veteran UFA's will likely not want to sign with the Flames to play for Hartley.

2) The Flames will tank again and get another lottery pick. That might seem to be a good idea.... 3 top picks in a row.... but that is getting close to the Oiler scenario and it might be hard to stop at 3.


I think there was a reason that Hartley was not in the NHL for 6 years.

1) Veteran UFAs do not like to sign for rebuilding teams, period. As far as I know, Hartley has a pretty good reputation as a player's coach - tough, but fair. Tanguay - who has had a bit of a history with coaches and pouting - loved him and wanted him aboard. Every coach has certain players that love him, certain players that don't. You don't base your decision on who to hire as a coach because 'x' players that aren't even on your team like him.

2) Tanking? Tanking? What have you been watching?? Please watch more Flames games rather than just looking at the standings please. This is a tank-job on paper ONLY. The team plays hard - which is why you are seeing so much Hartley support this thread.

Tanking.... lol ... oh you!!