CALGARY – The sting of missing the playoffs was evident as Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley joined Global Calgary’s Morning News on Wednesday.
After surprising many by making the playoffs in 2014-15 and then beating Vancouver in the first round, Calgary (35-40-7) took a step back this season, finishing 26th overall.
“It was a learning experience. As much as we learned the right way last year, this year unfortunately we had to learn the tough way,” Hartley said, admitting the team had a “tough start” to the 2015-2016 season.
“Towards the end of December we were right back in the race, and we just couldn’t sustain it,” Hartley said. “Consistency was a major problem this year.”
WATCH: Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley admits the team was inconsistent during the 2015-16 season
“It’s a very emotional business as we all know,” Hartley said. “Once a season is over you dissect it, you analyze the good parts, the bad parts – and then you work in order to get better.”
“Talking to the players in the meetings, in the exit meetings a few days ago, they were really opened minded about it, that ‘yes we failed.’”
“We tell them the passing grade is to be a playoff team.”
WATCH: Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley says players feel they failed by not making the playoffs
However, there was plenty of personal success this season. Johnny Gaudreau finished tied for sixth in scoring in his sophmore season. Others with career years points-wise included TJ Brodie, MArk Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund and Joe Colborne.
“We’re dealing with good people,” Harley said. “For us, the coaching staff, this is very motivating because when you’re dealing with good people, you know that they want to do the best and they’re ready to put the work in.”
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