Craig Hartsburg
Born (1959-06-29) June 29, 1959 (age 64)
Stratford, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Birmingham Bulls
Minnesota North Stars
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 6th overall, 1979
Minnesota North Stars
Playing career 1978–1989

Craig William Hartsburg (born June 29, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and head coach, who currently serves as an amateur scout and defense development coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hartsburg played ten seasons with the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL as a defenceman from 1979 until 1989, captaining the team for seven NHL seasons before pursuing a coaching career. He featured in the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals with the North Stars.

Hartsburg has coached in the Ontario Hockey League, the Western Hockey League, and has previously been an NHL head coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Ottawa Senators.

Playing career

Hartsburg played three seasons of junior hockey for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he was a teammate of Wayne Gretzky's during the 1977–78 season.[1] In Hartsburg's last two seasons with the Greyhounds, he averaged over a point per game. In 1977–78, Hartsburg represented Canada at the World Junior Championships, scoring five points in six games.

Hartsburg skipped his fourth and final junior season, deciding instead to turn pro with the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association (WHA) in June 1978, as an underage free agent.[2] Hartsburg amassed nine goals and 40 assists in his rookie professional season.[2] With the collapse of the financially troubled WHA in 1979,[3] Hartsburg was drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.[4]

Hartsburg played 570 NHL games, over ten seasons. He scored 98 goals and 315 assists, for 413 points.[4] In 1981–82, his best offensive season, Hartsburg recorded 17 goals and 60 assists for 77 points, with a +11 plus-minus rating. He also finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting.[5] Internationally, he represented Canada at the 1981 and 1987 Canada Cups. At the 1987 IIHF World Championships he was named the tournament's top defenceman. He played in the NHL All-Star game in 1980, 1982, and 1983.[2] Hartsburg's seven seasons as North Stars' captain remained the franchise record for seasons of captaincy until Derian Hatcher broke the record at the end of the 2002-03 NHL season, after the team's move to Dallas.

Coaching career

Following two injury-riddled seasons in which Hartsburg missed 103 of a possible 160 games because of hip problems, Hartsburg retired as a player at age 30 and accepted an assistant coaching position with the North Stars for the 1989–90 season. He then became an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers from 1990 to 1994. He then served as head coach of the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the 1994–95 season, before returning to the NHL as the head coach from 1995 to 1998 of the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1998, he was named head coach of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim before being replaced in midseason of 2000–01.

He coached junior hockey with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL for one season, before rejoining the Flyers as an assistant for two seasons. In 2004, he returned to the Greyhounds and served as the head coach until 2008. He also served as coach for the Canadian World Junior Team.[6] He received a gold medal in the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, when Team Canada beat Russia 4–2. He was also the coach for Team Canada in the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships when Canada again won gold by beating Sweden 3–2 in overtime.

On June 13, 2008, he signed a three-year contract and was named head coach of the Ottawa Senators, replacing general manager Bryan Murray who had assumed interim coaching duties when John Paddock was fired on February 27, 2008.[7][8] On February 1, 2009, Hartsburg was fired by the Senators, having compiled a 17–24–7 record during the 2008–09 season.[9]

On June 23, 2009, the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League named Hartsburg its third head coach in franchise history.[10] On June 6, 2011, Hartsburg stepped down from his coaching job in Everett to join the Calgary Flames as an assistant coach.[11] On June 7, 2012, Craig Hartsburg was released by the Calgary Flames, but was named associate coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets only 13 days later. His coaching time with the Blue Jackets came to an end on April 13, 2016 when his retirement was announced.[12] On July 12, 2019, he returned to the Blue Jackets as an amateur scout and defense development coach.[13]

Personal

Hartsburg and his wife, Peggy, have two children.

Their son, Chris, was the head coach of the OHL's Erie Otters, while their daughter Katie, is a speech pathologist.[14]

He has 3 grandchildren: Colin, Blake and Greyson.

Hartsburg lists Gretzky as the best player he has played with, and Chris Chelios as the best player he has coached. Hartsburg's favorite hobby is fishing.[15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1975–76 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OMJHL 64 9 19 28 65 12 1 0 1 16
1976–77 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OMJHL 61 29 64 93 142 9 0 11 11 27
1977–78 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OMJHL 36 15 42 57 101 13 4 8 12 24
1978–79 Birmingham Bulls WHA 77 9 40 49 73 — — — — —
1979–80 Minnesota North Stars NHL 79 14 30 44 81 15 3 1 4 17
1980–81 Minnesota North Stars NHL 74 13 30 43 124 19 3 12 15 16
1981–82 Minnesota North Stars NHL 76 17 60 77 117 4 1 2 3 14
1982–83 Minnesota North Stars NHL 78 12 50 62 109 9 3 8 11 7
1983–84 Minnesota North Stars NHL 26 7 7 14 37 — — — — —
1984–85 Minnesota North Stars NHL 32 7 11 18 54 9 5 3 8 14
1985–86 Minnesota North Stars NHL 75 10 47 57 127 5 0 1 1 2
1986–87 Minnesota North Stars NHL 73 11 50 61 93 — — — — —
1987–88 Minnesota North Stars NHL 27 3 16 19 29 — — — — —
1988–89 Minnesota North Stars NHL 30 4 14 18 47 — — — — —
WHA totals 77 9 40 49 73 — — — — —
NHL totals 570 98 315 413 818 61 15 27 42 70

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1978 Canada WJC 6 1 4 5 8
1981 Canada CC 7 0 1 1 6
1982 Canada WC 10 3 3 6 12
1983 Canada WC 5 1 2 3 2
1987 Canada WC 10 0 1 1 14
1987 Canada CC 9 0 2 2 6
Junior totals 6 1 4 5 8
Senior totals 41 4 9 13 40

Coaching record

NHL

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T OTL Pts Finish W L Result
CHI 1995–96 82 40 28 14 — 94 2nd in Central 6 4 Won in first round (4–0 vs. CGY)
Lost in second round (2–4 vs. COL)
CHI 1996–97 82 34 35 13 — 81 5th in Central 2 4 Lost in first round (2–4 vs. COL)
CHI 1997–98 82 30 39 13 — 73 5th in Central - - Missed playoffs
ANA 1998–99 82 35 34 13 — 83 3rd in Pacific 0 4 Lost in first round (0–4 vs. DET)
ANA 1999–2000 82 34 33 12 3 83 5th in Pacific - - Missed playoffs
ANA 2000–01 33 11 15 4 3 (66) 5th in Pacific - - (Fired)
OTT 2008–09 48 17 24 — 7 (83) 4th in Northeast - - (Fired)
CHI Total 246 104 102 40 — 248 8 8
ANA Total 197 80 82 29 6 195 0 4
OTT Total 48 17 24 — 7 41 0 0
Total 491 201 208 69 13 484 8 12

Junior hockey

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T OTL Pts Finish Result
GUE 1994–95 66 47 14 5 — 99 1st in Central Won in quarterfinals (4-0 vs. OS)
Won in semifinals (4–0 vs. BEL)
Lost in OHL Finals (2-4 vs. DET)
SOO 2001–02 68 38 20 10 0 86 2nd in West Lost in first round (3–4 vs. WSR)
SOO 2004–05 59 31 19 8 1 (76) 1st in West Lost in first round (3–4 vs. WSR)
SOO 2005–06 68 29 31 — 8 66 4th in West Lost in first round (0–4 vs. LDN)
SOO 2006–07 68 37 23 — 8 82 3rd in West Won in first round (4–2 vs. SAG)
Lost in second round (3–4 vs. LDN)
SOO 2007–08 68 44 18 — 6 94 1st in West Won in first round (4–0 vs. SAG)
Won in second round (4–1 vs. GUE)
Lost in third round (1–4 vs. KIT)
EVR 2009–10 72 46 21 3 2 97 3rd in West[16] Lost in first round (3–4 vs. KEL)
EVR 2010–11 72 28 33 7 4 67 8th in West Lost in first round (0–4 vs. POR)
SOO Total 331 179 111 18 23 399 22–23 (0.489)
EVR Total 144 74 54 10 6 164 3–8 (0.273)
GUE Total 66 47 14 5 — 99 10–4 (0.714)
OHL Total 397 226 125 23 23 498 32–27 (0.542)
WHL Total 144 74 54 10 6 164 3–8 (0.273)
Junior Total 541 300 179 33 29 662 35–35 (0.500)

References

  1. ^ "1977–78 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)". hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "Craig William Hartsburg". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "From the WHA to the NHL". NHL. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Craig Hartsburg to coach Senators: report". CBC. June 13, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  5. ^ "1981-82 NHL Awards Voting | Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  6. ^ "Hartsburg to return as Canadian junior coach". CBC Sports. May 29, 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
  7. ^ "Hartsburg accepts Senators 'challenge'". Ottawa Senators. June 13, 2008. Archived from the original on June 18, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  8. ^ "Hartsburg introduced as new head coach in Ottawa". TSN.ca. June 13, 2008. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "Struggling Senators fire coach Hartsburg". February 2, 2009. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  10. ^ "Silvertips hire ex-NHL coach Craig Hartsburg". HeraldNet. December 2, 2003. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "Craig Hartsburg Steps Down as Head Coach". Everett Silvertips. June 6, 2011. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "Blue Jackets associate coach Craig Hartsburg announces retirement from coaching". NHL.com. April 13, 2016. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Russon, Randy (July 16, 2019). "Craig Hartsburg is all about development … RIP, Chris Braido". Sault This Week. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  14. ^ Brodie, Rob (June 13, 2008). "New Sens coach ready for pressure cooker". Ottawa Senators. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
  15. ^ "20 things you didn't know about Craig Hartsburg". Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2008.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "Home". whl.ca.

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