Burke interviewed in Toronto Star

[Major Major]

I find it odd that some see Hartley as a stop gap coach until we become good. Is that because he was a really good junior coach before coming to Calgary, and all he's really had are young players, but he knows how to get them to work hard? Must have been a different dude I saw lift a cup surrounded by some of the best players of the last 25 years.

With Burke's comments, and his proven ability to make players of ALL skill levels to buy into a team concept and work their asses off, he should be extended this summer. There is not a coach out there who either is or may become available that has his track record, nor who has done a better job coaching this year. Man's an all star.

[Poe969]

Not to take anything away from Hartley, but he won the cup with a stacked Avs team and it was in 2001. The game has changed and so have the players. Sure he is getting the most out of the team now but he didn't do that well when he had a better team (on paper) last year. I think that he's earned a right to be here with what he's doing now, not what he did 13 years ago.

I think that was one of the major problems of the Flames (and some of the fans) for the longest time; we had a team full of former 20 goal scorers but they couldn't do anything. Let's not look at Hartley as a guy who won the cup 13 years ago, lets look at him as a coach who's getting more out of this team then is expected. If things change and the team doesn't respond to him as well, then make a change but if the team isn't responding to him we can't say that he won the cup a long time ago so he's still a good coach.

Bottom line, I think he's doing very well all things considering but if Burke finds a new GM for this team and he wants a new coach, we'll probably end up with a new coach.

[ramizle]

Of all the positive things Hartley has instilled in this team, I like that he made a TEAM out of this group. The Flames have a new persona and they are a tight group. Much much much better than the country club mentality we used to have. Wait, should I credit Hartley or the Big Ern for that?

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Poe969

It's waaay too hard to say what to do with him if a different coach like Bylsma becomes available. I just worry that Hartley may have a hard time with "star players" or if his hard work mentality is going to only last so long.

Originally Posted by Poe969

Not to take anything away from Hartley, but he won the cup with a stacked Avs team and it was in 2001.

This is precisely what I find odd about the current attitude towards Hartley by some. Just find it contradictory.

Originally Posted by Poe969

Bottom line, I think he's doing very well all things considering but if Burke finds a new GM for this team and he wants a new coach, we'll probably end up with a new coach.

I'm going to put the likelyhood that we have a new coach come the beginning of the 2014/2015 season at 0%. Burke isn't going to go on record saying Hartley should get Jack Adams consideration and then let a GM he hires get rid of him. No chance. Like I said, he's earned a contract extension this off season.

[CaptainCrunch]

The Flames have done a tremendous job of winning the public relations battle with the fans this year. They've made the fans feel engaged and excited and optimistic. A big part of that is the culture that's been installed and that always goes credit wise to the head coach.

Firing Hartley right now would be a terrible message to the fans.

He's gained a lot of respect from management, the media and fans.

[BlackWallStreet]

Bylsma is goof if we even consider hiring him I'm out

[dustygoon]

Is it Bylsma's fault that the GM won't turn the page on Fleury?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The Flames have done a tremendous job of winning the public relations battle with the fans this year. They've made the fans feel engaged and excited and optimistic. A big part of that is the culture that's been installed and that always goes credit wise to the head coach.

Firing Hartley right now would be a terrible message to the fans.

He's gained a lot of respect from management, the media and fans.

Not to mention the fact that the Flames have a recent reputation of being a coaches graveyard. If Hartley were relieved after pulling off what most people describe as respectable results, it would really hurt the ability for this team to lure a good coach. Any decent coach would be bound to have other options.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The Flames have done a tremendous job of winning the public relations battle with the fans this year. They've made the fans feel engaged and excited and optimistic. A big part of that is the culture that's been installed and that always goes credit wise to the head coach.

Firing Hartley right now would be a terrible message to the fans.

He's gained a lot of respect from management, the media and fans.

He's very likely going to get the last year in his contract but in the NHL you are only as good as your last season (see Paul MacLean) and if the team drops off next season and the team ends up front and center in the McDavid sweepstakes chances are he won't be renewed as it's really easy for the new GM to let the deal run out on the coach he inherited and bring in his own guy kind of like how Hartley got hired in the first place as Brent's contract ended and Feaster brought in his guy.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

was this a thinly veiled dig at Phaneuf? I'd like to think it was

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

If anything it was a shot at the outgoing leadership and culture.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's very likely going to get the last year in his contract but in the NHL you are only as good as your last season (see Paul MacLean) and if the team drops off next season and the team ends up front and center in the McDavid sweepstakes chances are he won't be renewed as it's really easy for the new GM to let the deal run out on the coach he inherited and bring in his own guy kind of like how Hartley got hired in the first place as Brent's contract ended and Feaster brought in his guy.

I like Hartley and think he has earned two more years. I don't expect much from next season, just keep up the good vibrations around this team. Season 15/16 though, I'd expect large improvements as the young players mature. If it doesn't happen, Hartley could be in trouble.

[evil1]

[QUOTE=MrMastodonFarm;4697311]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

was this a thinly veiled dig at Phaneuf? I'd like to think it was

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

If anything it was a shot at the outgoing leadership and culture.

To fully appreciate the comments, you need to remember something.

Half the people you know, are below average.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Hartley= my favorite coach of the Flames since D. Sutter!

Keenan. Loved his freewheeling, not giving a #### attitude about systems or powerplays or anything else besides deploying his best players to win.

Also, 13 playoff games in 2 seasons behind the bench with a rotten core of players. Somehow managed to turn David Moss into a 20 goal scorer.

Wish the 08/09 team wasn't so banged up. They could have made some noise if healthy.

Hartley is probably a much better coach for the youth though.

[Red Slinger]

I totally agree with Burke's comments about Hartley and Giordano. Those two have been the impetus for whatever positivity has come this season. Also, other team leaders like McGratton, Stajan and Hudler deserve some credit.

I really hope that Hartley is given at least one more season and a guy like Bylsma isn't considered. Bylsma is an example of a coach that is great with his players, good in the room, good for the team psyche but maybe not the best X's and O's tactician. Early in the season I thought Hartley fell into the same mould: he was positive and kept the room upbeat but some of his on-ice decisions were questionable. But in hindsight it looks like most of those decisions were based on seeing how he could push the team and individual players and trying to find the right chemistry. He's been very patient and consistent and that is an unusual trait in a NHL head coach because of the "what have you done for me lately" mentality of players, fans and team management in regards to coaches.

Darryl Sutter did a great job coaching the team but it seemed like it was always with a very short-sighted view: win now and let the future take care of itself. That's pretty typical for NHL head coaches. It's made what Hartley has done this season even more impressive. I hope Burke also shows enough patience to keep Hartley and rebuild the right way.

[Mr.Coffee]

Burke is great, it'd be tough to disagree with almost anything he's done or said so far.

That said, is he interviewed every 2 hours or is it just me and also, wtf is he doing taking Toronto Star interviews? Weird.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Burke is great, it'd be tough to disagree with almost anything he's done or said so far.

That said, is he interviewed every 2 hours or is it just me and also, wtf is he doing taking Toronto Star interviews? Weird.

You know the Flames are in Toronto right now, and it's Burke's first time back since being fired, right? Kind of makes sense why he's doing Toronto Star interviews...

[TjRhythmic]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Not to take anything away from Hartley, but he won the cup with a stacked Avs team and it was in 2001. The game has changed and so have the players. Sure he is getting the most out of the team now but he didn't do that well when he had a better team (on paper) last year. I think that he's earned a right to be here with what he's doing now, not what he did 13 years ago.

I think that was one of the major problems of the Flames (and some of the fans) for the longest time; we had a team full of former 20 goal scorers but they couldn't do anything. Let's not look at Hartley as a guy who won the cup 13 years ago, lets look at him as a coach who's getting more out of this team then is expected. If things change and the team doesn't respond to him as well, then make a change but if the team isn't responding to him we can't say that he won the cup a long time ago so he's still a good coach.

Bottom line, I think he's doing very well all things considering but if Burke finds a new GM for this team and he wants a new coach, we'll probably end up with a new coach.

Hartley also said at the start of the year, that last year he made a lot of mistakes. New team, no training camp, he let a lot go because it was a veteran lineup and he put a lot of trust in the players to be prepared. This year, no more of that country club atmosphere... No more optional practices, and you have to work for your ice, etc... Play for your brothers on the team.

I agree we shouldn't look at the Hartley from his time with the Avs, but in the same retrospect we shouldn't compare him to the Hartley of last year, as this year we are seeing him coach his team, his way. And the results so far have been better then anyone could have expected. And with Burke's comments, and earlier saying that the new GM is going to build a Burke team, or at least have the same philosophy with regards to building that team, I have a feeling Hartley will be around for awhile as he has won Burke over.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Hartley= my favorite coach of the Flames since D. Sutter!

Keep the guy around he has done nothing but good things since arriving..

Better than Keenan and Brent!?! That's one heck of a compliment

Oh and I think it's pretty obvious Hartley should stay. I wasn't a huge fan of his hiring in the first place, and the team didn't make the strides last year I was hoping for. But the organization has done a complete 180° this year, and most of the players that matter have made significant improvements in their game (Giordano, Monahan, Backlund, Brodie, Ortio, Wotherspoon, etc). I honestly don't care if we don't see the same happen in the veteran core, as they won't be a part of the future going forward. Although to be fair Hudler has still been good, as has Scoreface since he returned. Really there's only been a few players who are worse off than when we started this season.

It would definitely negatively impact the team to change coaches once again with the positive vibe flowing throughout the organization. It really sends a poor message if major changes occur after every season. The one thing management might want to consider would be to give Troy Ward a bump to assistant coach if another team offers him the same position elsewhere in the league.

If things don't work out in a couple seasons then go ahead and make the change, but that's not something Burke should be planning for this season. Give Hartley the reins for another 2-3 seasons, and let him have a shot at taking a team with actual potential into hopefully what amounts into being a contenting team.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Not to take anything away from Hartley, but he won the cup with a stacked Avs team and it was in 2001. The game has changed and so have the players. Sure he is getting the most out of the team now but he didn't do that well when he had a better team (on paper) last year. I think that he's earned a right to be here with what he's doing now, not what he did 13 years ago.

I think that was one of the major problems of the Flames (and some of the fans) for the longest time; we had a team full of former 20 goal scorers but they couldn't do anything. Let's not look at Hartley as a guy who won the cup 13 years ago, lets look at him as a coach who's getting more out of this team then is expected. If things change and the team doesn't respond to him as well, then make a change but if the team isn't responding to him we can't say that he won the cup a long time ago so he's still a good coach.

Bottom line, I think he's doing very well all things considering but if Burke finds a new GM for this team and he wants a new coach, we'll probably end up with a new coach.

I never buy this argument. The Avs were great for a lot of years, but if they were that unbeatable, they'd have five or six cups, not two. Hartley deserves as much credit as Roy, Forsberg, Sakic and Bourque for that cup.

[SHOGUN]

I actually enjoyed watching the Flames play this season compared to the last few seasons.. that probably has to do a lot with Hartley this season.