Blog World

Craig Hartsburg

Born: June 29, 1959 in the lovely city of Stratford, Ontario.  The same city who's legendary Stratford Shakespear festival launched the iconic career of William "James T. Kirk" Shatner.  O.k.  I just HAD to do a shout-out to Bill.  C'mon!

Now, as passionate Hockey fans, I think it's safe to assume most are familiar with Hartsburg's recent success with the World Juniors, capturing back to back gold medals and now, thanks to Ottawa's GM Bryan Murray, he has officially been handed the reins of Head Coach of the Ottawa Senators back in June of this year.  So, like most fans, after the debacle of a season they had last, I'm very excited and anxious to see what Craig does...  and we won't have to wait too much longer.

Right after the press conference where Murray, Mlakar, and Melnyk announced the hiring of Hartsburg, Craig wasted little time getting down to business.  As Garrioch mentioned in today's Sun, he went about contacting some players right away to get their take on what direction they feel they need to go and how they can better themselves and in turn, the team as a whole.  To me, that is a great sign.  I'm quite comforted to hear that he not only chose to hit the ground running, but he obviously has a plan or plans in mind and is looking to get the ball rolling ASAP.

With physicals set for today and the official first day of training camp tomorrow (I believe) we, the fans, will finally get a glimpse of what Hartsburg and Murray too feel about our squad and Craig can finally put some of those ideas and thoughts from paper to the ice.  As an enraged fan, I know results WON'T be instantaneous, but since most of the core have remained intact and they ALL accept responsiblity for their season and it's pathetic end, I expect we'll see these boys flying out of gate with a vengeance.

As for Hartsburg's credentials...  I've been hearing a lot of naysayers saying he wasn't a good pick by Murray to coach this squad, because his previous NHL experience was quite sad (their words, not mine) and left a lot to be desired.  I have to disagree on that one, because when one looks at his record, considering the players and teams he had to work with (I know, it's a coaches job to get the best out of his players and work with what he's got to make it work) I'm really not going to hold it against him.  Lets not forget he is a 10 yr veteran NHL player, seeing an entire decade with the Minnesota North Stars from 1978-79 season to the 1988-89, where he notched 413 points in 570 NHL games played (98 G's, 315 assists.)

In the 1995-1996 season, while at the helm of the Blackhawks bench, he saw his team to a 40-28-14 record, for a total of 94 points, and surprisingly notching 273 GF record vs a 220 GA.  They moved past the Flames in the first round (4-0) only to fall to the Avalanche in the Semis 4 games to 2.  That's not bad for his NHL debut, if I don't say so myself, and considering some of the BIG name players on his Blackhawk squad consisted of Roenick, Chris Chelios, Gary Suter, Bernie Nichols, Brent Sutter, and the infamous Bob Probert, I'd be happy with that record, except no one wants to be ousted from the playoffs, but still.

The following season saw the hawks dip a little, going 34-35-13 for a total of 81 points.  A further setback saw them ousted in the first round by the Avalanche...again, in 6 games. 

In what would be Hartsburg final year behind the bench in Chicago (1997-98), they posted a dismal season of 30-39-13 for a whopping 73 points, finishing 5th in the Central division and missing the post-season.  This was the first time under Hartsburg's tenure that the Hawk's GA exceeded their GF's (192-199). It's not a huge margin, but perhaps worth mentioning, and their #1 goalie was none other than Jeff Hackett, backed up gy Chris Terreri.

Hartsburg was then hired to coach the (I'm sorry, I can't say their old name without being prone to maniacal fits of laughter) Mighty Ducks of Anaheim...  With a team consisting of upcoming and then stars Teemu Selanne Paul Kariya, Hartsburg looked ready to try and improve an underachieving and sometimes slacking Duck team (my what 10 years does to a team, eh?)

In his freshman year with the Ducks, 1998-99 season, they posted a record of 35-34-13 for 83 points, and finishing 3rd in the pacific division, only to be swept by the surging Detroit Red Wings.  To note: their #1 goalie, Guy Hebert, recorded 6 shutouts and posted a 31-29-9 record, with a GAA of 2.42 and SV% of .922.  Oh, I also found this to be interesting...Selanne played 75 games, notching 47 goals and 60 assists...107 point season.  Adding to it, 4 playoff games played, with 2 goals and 2 assists. 

for the '99-00 season, Hartsburg kept the goalies and most of the lineup intact and they skated to a 5th place finish in Pacific division posting a 34-33-12-3 record for 83 points and missed the post-season.  Now, in all fairness to Hartsburg, not much had changed with his squad, and the Ducks were still a new team and some could argue still developing every day!  Nonetheless, a disappointing end for the Ducks.

Again, in his 3rd and what would become his final year coaching the Ducks...In fact, he was replaced mid-year by Guy Charon was a downward spiral, and as a Sens fan, I can attest to what that feels like.  Hartsburg went 11-15-4-3 and then Charon took over and only managed to go 14-26-7-2 for a total of 66 points, and 5th in the pacific.  Their GF and GA's were almost brutal (188 GF vs 245 GF) and the result was Hartsburg's firing, leaving his NHL record: total games played, 443, with a 184-184-69-6, leaving him dead-even at the .500 mark...until now...

Now I know, his record seems somewhat dismal and this may leave some Sens fans panicked and wondering what the hell did Murray get us into?  Well, I still believe that one truly must look at the rosters and teams Hartsburg had to work with and cut him some slack, for since then, he's achieved great success at the world juniors, and he's truly grown as a coach who knows not only how to handle players but who can also get them to push and give 150% EVERY shift! 
THAT, to me, is beyond encouraging and I cannot wait for puck drop and see what kind of record he now begins with the Sens. 

As far as I'm concerned, and I think most Sens fans should consider this, Hartsburg is coming to Ottawa with a clean slate.  Sure, people will often reference what he's done at the World Junior level, but as far as his past NHL experience...?  Well, the game has certainly changed a LOT since then and he seems more than up to the challenge of leaving his mark on the Sens.  Let the Era of Hartsburg begin.