The future of Bob Hartley

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

2–3 years away from what exactly?

In two years they should be out of the basement and entering the playoff bubble.
In three, they should be looking like a playoff team.

Those are pretty much my expectations.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

You loved finishing 4th last because it was a change. Everyone is expecting good things to follow the change.

If the Flames still play hard but get less bounces this year and end up losing a lot of games by 2-3 goals, I bet you there will be a lot of fans pretty fed up with watching it come Jan-Feb.

Probably. But they're not the ones who will ultimately decide whether or not to fire the coach. A good management team will know when to hold their course in the face of fan impatience.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

You loved finishing 4th last because it was a change. Everyone is expecting good things to follow the change.

If the Flames still play hard but get less bounces this year and end up losing a lot of games by 2-3 goals, I bet you there will be a lot of fans pretty fed up with watching it come Jan-Feb.

I loved it because I was entertained nearly every night. Any 'bounces' they got were earned. They keep up that effort and keep playing that style, they will by default improve as they grow together as a team.

I don't have much in the way of expectations for this season, but am very hopeful for the future. I genuinely feel we are on the ground floor of building something very special.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

2–3 years away from what exactly?

In two years they should be out of the basement and entering the playoff bubble.
In three, they should be looking like a playoff team.

I would say 2-3 years from being a team in the playoff chase for the 6-8 playoff spots in March. As for actually making the playoffs 3 years at the earliest as some teams like the Jets for instance get close then flat line never being able to quite turn the corner. It's simply impossible to predict if Johny Hockey, Sven and all these young kids are going to be the players we all hope them to be in three years. Right now all our faith is tied into potential which is not a certainty by any means.

[442scotty]

It takes time for teams to gel...learn each others and the coaches style..Once the young guys find chemistry and instinctive awareness the team will take off. Hartley is a good coach and if he has a good system it will all come together.

All you guys who have played at any level...remember how good things went once you got accustomed to your linemates? Takes time and consistency in terms of coaching. They will be fine

[Arya Stark]

I think it all depends on what happens this year. I like him and hope he stays.

[CliffFletcher]

A bottom five finish this season is expected, and given the team management have handed Hartley, it wouldn't reflect well on them if they turfed him this season.

2015-16, I expect the Flames will still be hovering around the bottom five in the standings. Most of the talented young forwards will still be in their 1st and 2nd years in the NHL, and there's nothing on the horizon to suggest the defence corps is going to improve internally. That's where we'll see if Hartley's message is wearing off or if he has the commitment and loyalty of the young players. If he does, then despite the bottom five finish I expect he'll be kept on.

2016-17 is where the brass will expect to see improvement in the standings. If the Flames aren't in striking distance of a playoff spot by Christmas, I expect Hartley would take the fall.

[Nehkara]

I would like Hartley to be here for the foreseeable future unless the team shows some significant problems that can attributed to the head coach. He has done a spectacular job thus far.

[cannon7]

Career years for Giordano, Hudler, Brodie, Colborne, Russell, etc.
Injuries for Cammaleri and Glencross, tragedy for Stajan.
What is Hartley supposed to do with our vets?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

A bottom five finish this season is expected, and given the team management have handed Hartley, it wouldn't reflect well on them if they turfed him this season.

.

Yup. We are DFL in payroll this year and one of the youngest teams in the league. Expecting him to be better than a bottom 5 finish would be like expecting him to win the Jack Adams.

[Stay Golden]

I don't see anything that would warrant Hartley being replaced. Change for the sake of just change with coaches does not usually work out for the best.
Burke and Treliving know that the Flames do have a roster to push for a playoff spot.
Personally I like Hartley has a HC with this roster or a future winning Flames squad.

[Super-Rye]

In my eyes this is a very important year for Hartley and his staff. Last year they got the team to buy in and it allowed them to over-achieve in a way.

This year will be different as teams will have adjusted and the Flames will not 'surprise' anyone.

I don't expect this team to have a winning record or anything like that this year, so to judge weather or not this year is a success for Hartley will rely on a couple other factors.

Can this team still leave it all on the ice over the course of a season or will the message start to get lost?

Can Hartley and crew keep the young players progressing enough that Treliving doesn't feel the need to bring in "his guy"?

If I were a betting man I'd put my money on Hartley getting an extension, but one way or the other it's another interesting storyline to keep an eye on this season.

[Rick M.]

I think a lot of young players who are on the cusp now will be NHLers in 2015-16 with all of the rookie mistakes that entails. I think 2016-17 is when we see the rapid ascent up the standings. I'd like to see Hartley around for that.

[driveway]

With rewards like McDavid, Eichel, and Hanafin waiting for the cellar-dwellers of the league, Hartley would need to do something illegal to get fired this year.

[ricardodw]

Hartley is a stop-gap AHL coach.

2 years ago he had a team of the highest paid veterans who finished 25th in the league.


Of these players Iginla, Tanguay, Bouwmeester, Sarich, Cammalleri, Hudler, Wideman all had below average seasons.

Last year the worst players up to the deadline were Cammalleri, Galiardi, David Jones and Stempniak.

So out of the solid NHL players that Hartley has got to play better than expected are Gio and Cammalleri (after no one wanted him at the trade deadline) and maybe Stajan and Hudler in his 2nd year.

The rest of the players he coached last year were working hard to establish themselves.... very very motivated.

He has not shown that he can be trusted with the near the cap-team the Flames will be in 2 years.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Hartley is a stop-gap AHL coach.

2 years ago he had a team of the highest paid veterans who finished 25th in the league.


Of these players Iginla, Tanguay, Bouwmeester, Sarich, Cammalleri, Hudler, Wideman all had below average seasons.

Last year the worst players up to the deadline were Cammalleri, Galiardi, David Jones and Stempniak.

So out of the solid NHL players that Hartley has got to play better than expected are Gio and Cammalleri (after no one wanted him at the trade deadline) add maybe Stajan and Hudler in his 2nd year.

The rest of the players he coached last year were working hard to establish themselves.... very very motivated.

He has not shown that he can be trusted with the near the cap-team the Flames will be in 2 years.

If I recall boumeester had his only good season here under Hartley

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

2–3 years away from what exactly?

In two years they should be out of the basement and entering the playoff bubble.
In three, they should be looking like a playoff team.

2-3 years for too, as in Gaudreau/Bennett/Porier 2nd NHL year.... I think you're seeing that a little in Treliving's UFA signings (Raymond, Engalland) both getting 3-year deals, IMO anyways.

Until then, our NHLers would be, at the current roster projecting forward - Monahan, Brodie, Giordano, maybe Sven. I think you need another 2-3 guys before you see this ship turning around.

As for Hartley... no idea, most times (sans Toronto) the crossroads that a coach gets fired is one when things don't go according to plan. Hard to predict what it is that won't go according to plan; for now, Hartley seems to have the ear of the leaders and core of the team, so he seems pretty safe for now.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Hartley is a stop-gap AHL coach.

2 years ago he had a team of the highest paid veterans who finished 25th in the league.


Of these players Iginla, Tanguay, Bouwmeester, Sarich, Cammalleri, Hudler, Wideman all had below average seasons.

Last year the worst players up to the deadline were Cammalleri, Galiardi, David Jones and Stempniak.

So out of the solid NHL players that Hartley has got to play better than expected are Gio and Cammalleri (after no one wanted him at the trade deadline) and maybe Stajan and Hudler in his 2nd year.

The rest of the players he coached last year were working hard to establish themselves.... very very motivated.

He has not shown that he can be trusted with the near the cap-team the Flames will be in 2 years.

All the players you listed here 'checked out' mentally half-way through the lockout season. As soon as it looked like Iginla was being traded all the vets just phoned it in from that point onwards. This included a hangover effect into last year.

Don't judge Hartley's ability to coach veterans by his track record with the Spoilt Millionaires Brigade. These young players are entering the league and learning Hartley's system from the start and there's no doubt they're self-motivated and buy into it all just the same. I don't think his track record with the smouldering ruins of a previous regime's roster is remotely relevant to the future here.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Locke

Really? I honestly think they might be bottom 3 this year, to attempt to make the playoffs the next year seems pretty optimistic.

I'm generally pretty optomistic about our team.. I'm not sure we're going to be bottom 3 this year with our goalie situation and Gaudreau potential.. I also think next year Bennett is going to turn heads and we are going to finally dump our plugs..
Just my opinion though, I seem to be the minority thinking we have a chance for 8th-10th next year.

[RyZ]

I dont think hes the guy that brings us into the playoffs. Coaches dont finish 24th, 26th & 29th (my guess for this season) and live to see 4th and 5th season no matter what the player situation is. Hes the stop gap in the longer term plan.