Hartley has a reputation of being a grinder. He wears on players and it’s safe to say he got buried by his players in Calgary during exit interviews with GM Brad Treliving. They grew tired of Hartley and blamed their poor season on him.
- S Kaspar Rollins
I would say it is safe to speculate this, but doesn't feel right stating it as fact (at least to me).
Monahan on the fan iterated that he did not have fued. And the only time his voice rose above the usual monotone was when it was suggested that he and JG were the reason for BH getting let go. He said we would be phoning Bob to offer condolences. I can see SM skirting the question, telling a white lie to be polite, etc, but I felt that while he maybe wasn't surprised but that he wasn't jubilant.
Given everything I have seen, read, and watched of Hartley, I think it would be very unlikely his players trashed him. Did his message get old? Probably. Were the players non-receptive, even sick of him? Good chance. But I think that BH genuinely liked his players, they knew that, every player I see speak of BH mentions his fairness, and while they may have been candid about Hartley's effect, I doubt they would blatantly stab him in the back. But maybe I have too much faith in humanity.
I also think the BB thing is overplayed. I think a lot has happened in the last few years to change BB. Death of a son, getting rid of the Toronto and Vancouver media, losing the stress of being GM all change a person. I suspect he is a pretty good mentor for a 1st time GM. As has been said before, if he wanted the job he'd have it... was even offered it. But I suspect he could give kittens away at every home game, and the clones would still be saying he eats a boat of kittens for breakfast.
