Can Hartsburg be an effective NHL coach?

From Mike Brophy of the Hockey News:

Craig Hartsburg is widely regarded as a great junior hockey coach; a voice of reason who can make a huge impact on a young player striving to make it to the NHL.

As an NHL coach, however, he does not have the same successful reputation.

And yet it is Hartsburg the Ottawa Senators have chosen to try to turn things around.

The 52-year-old former NHL defenseman was chosen to replace Bryan Murray as coach of the Sens. Murray remains as the team’s GM, having decided to step back behind the bench late this season after firing John Paddock.

Read the rest of the article here.

While there will be questions about Hartsburg’s ability to coach at the NHL level and not junior, I like the hire. Hartsburg is hard-nosed and that is exactly what the Senators need right now. His experience at all levels of hockey and his demanding personality should push the Senators back to being a contender.