Music: {allcanada} FLAMES' STARS SHOULD THRIVE UNDER HARTLEY

Monday, June 4, 2012

{allcanada} FLAMES' STARS SHOULD THRIVE UNDER HARTLEY

The Calgary Herald notes Jeff Tambellini was recruited by new Flames coach Bob Hartley for the Zurich Lions in the Swiss Elite League, where Tambellini emerged as the premier player and leading scorer for this past season.

After a long, difficult period of imposing his will and instilling the importance of not only fitness, but also buying into the team system, Hartley proved the doubters wrong. The Lions wound up winning the league championship after falling behind 3-1 in that deciding series.

The image of Hartley some people have, Tambellini says, doesn't necessarily fit the man.

"There's a big misconception about Bob — that he's hard on guys. Confrontational. I think at his press conference (Thursday) he talked about knowing each of his players as people. It's true. He's just trying to get his players to win together.

"He wasn't a stubborn coach. None of this: 'This is the only way we're going to do it. Win or lose.' He's an intelligent enough guy to watch the game and make changes that would best benefit our group. Able to put his ego aside. I was one of the veterans this year. He relied on me a lot. I'd have the younger guys always asking 'Why's he on me? Why's he always showing me show much video? I did this wrong and this wrong.' I told them to quit complaining. 'When you have him as your coach, learn as much as you possibly can. Because one day if you want to go over (to North America) you're going to rely on everything this man said to you. Then you'll be saying 'Boy, I really appreciate him telling me this.'

"I loved playing for him.''

He believes the Calgary Flames will, too. Especially the marquee men.

"Jarome Iginla and Mike Cammalleri and Alex Tanguay . . . I'd be shocked if those guys don't have outstanding years. Tanguay is going to love playing for Bob Hartley again. I look at Mike Cammalleri and I can see him scoring 40 goals because Bob Hartley's going to get the best out of him. He knows that if his best players are his best players, they've got a great chance to win. Jarome will probably love Bob because not only will he want him to be the best player on the team, he'll want him to be the best player in the league. He'll want him to score 50 goals this year.

"His philosophy is: 'You're a top player? Good. Go be a top player.' That's why he's had such success coaching great players. He'll treat Mike Cammalleri like he treated Joe Sakic. A shooter, an offensive threat who's good in his own zone.

"He'll give those guys responsibility. He'll lean on them. I think you'll see a huge difference in both those guys because Bob will hand them the ball, play them a ton, and let them run with it. I can't see them not really, really enjoying having him as their coach.''