| 25 January 2009
There's a little known fact that whenever Gary Bettman flexes his muscles, an angel loses its wings. In an unprecedented and completely unconventional move, Bettman has suspended Pavel Datsyuk and Niklas Lidstrom for their choice to skip this weekend's All-Star festivities to rest their injuries. As Sens fans, we should count our blessings that Bettman didn't drop the Hebrew hammer on Brian Elliott for not participating in the AHL All-Star Game. Could you envision a more ridiculous way to kick off the second half of the season than having an Elliott suspension pave the way for a one-game return by Martin Gerber? With all the hype surrounding the Senators finally ridding themselves of Marty, it'd be like bringing back Grissom after running all of those promotions marking the transition into Laurence Fishburn's CSI reign.
Oh the drama that is the NHL All-Star Break. Between the Vinny Lecavalier rumors and my concern over which Conference will win this glorified exhibition game, I really can't wait to get off this emotional rollercoaster. Unfortunately, I don't think that's going to happen after reading an in-depth piece in The Ottawa Citizen discussing the perils that Craig Hartsburg has faced this season.
Here are some thought provoking bits from the article (and again, my comments will be in bold):
"That inconsistency has been our problem all year," he was still complaining the next morning. "We play one good period and one bad. We play 10 good minutes and then 10 bad minutes. We play well for 60 minutes and then we play poorly for two games. It's frustrating."
After going through the Jacques Martin years, it's refreshing to see a Coach who's open and honest.
"It's difficult to understand," Hartsburg says, choosing his words carefully. "When you build a team, your aim is to put together a group that takes pride in being part of a team. That just hasn't been happening here enough. If we're to get serious about getting better, it has to happen every game."
I like it. More honesty.
"To be successful this team has to rely more on its work habits than it has in the past," he says. "The players say they understand, but I don't believe enough people have taken pride in the team concept."
Oh, shit! Pssst, hey Craig, it might be time to play the cards a little closer to the vest. Honesty is one thing, stupidity is another.
Nor does he think there are chemistry problems in the dressing room.
"We have good guys, you know, they all get along," Hartsburg says. "But for some reason, and it's been over a year now, this team has been up and down, and sputtering."
When it's suggested his team is starting to get a reputation as coach killers, Hartsburg winces.
"I'm not going to say that," he replies. "You can use that but I am not going to say it."
Holy fuck Craig! Wink, wink, nod, nod? You can use the coach killing reference but I'm not going to say it directly. Great thinking Hartsy. I'm beginning to think that Doug Fischer, the interviewer, was slipping him shots before each question. As the responses keep getting more personable, I'm the one wincing after each direct quote.
Hartsburg accepts some of the blame for the players' refusal to listen. "I'm not ducking it. You can't keep finding excuses or saying it's someone else's fault."
Even so, he suggests the team's leaders -- again, he doesn't name names -- have let him down. No coach can succeed if his best players aren't pushing the message to their teammates, he says.
"When a team has been playing the way we are, when it's obvious not everyone is following the message, it's fair to say there have been some inconsistencies (from the team leaders)."
Wait, I thought he wasn't trying to find excuses or say that it's someone else's fault? Rather than a blanket statement that criticizes the whole team, he's thrown the leaders under the bus. Good thing Hartsby didn't mention names, it's not like these leaders are visibly identifiable on the ice or anything. I wonder how Alfie, Phillips, and Heatley will feel after reading this quote? I'm wagering that alienating the leaders isn't the best way to remedy the situation. Personally, I think it's a little bit naive to criticize Heatley -- He doesn't push anything, regardless if it's a message or a player.
Judging from Hartsburg's responses, you'd think he's doing his best to undo the recent success of his team. Mission accomplished! Because of Hartsburg, I've already forgotten that the team won 7 of 8 points heading into the All-Star break. Instead of dwelling on the positive, I can start analysing how or why a bunch of "good guys" can't buy into the team concept. I guess bad leadership is a place to start?
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