Craig Hartsburg

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 one season in the World Hockey Association with the Birmingham Bulls and 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 Final 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. 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. Hartsburg amassed nine goals and 40 assists in his rookie professional season. Hartsburg was drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1979 NHL entry draft.

Hartsburg played 570 NHL games, over ten seasons. He scored 98 goals and 315 assists, for 413 points. 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. 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. On February 1, 2009, Hartsburg was fired by the Senators, having compiled a 17–24–7 record during the 2008–09 season.

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

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. 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.

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

Junior hockey Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L T OTL Pts Finish ResultGUE1994–956647145—991st in CentralWon in quarterfinals (4-0 vs. OS) Won in semifinals (4–0 vs. BEL) Lost in OHL Finals (2-4 vs. DET)SOO2001–02683820100862nd in WestLost in first round (3–4 vs. WSR)SOO2004–0559311981(76)1st in WestLost in first round (3–4 vs. WSR)SOO2005–06682931—8664th in WestLost in first round (0–4 vs. LDN)SOO2006–07683723—8823rd in WestWon in first round (4–2 vs. SAG) Lost in second round (3–4 vs. LDN)SOO2007–08684418—6941st in WestWon in first round (4–0 vs. SAG) Won in second round (4–1 vs. GUE) Lost in third round (1–4 vs. KIT)EVR2009–107246213 2973rd in West Lost in first round (3–4 vs. KEL)EVR2010–1172283374678th in WestLost in first round (0–4 vs. POR)SOO Total 331179111182339922–23 (0.489)EVR Total 14474541061643–8 (0.273)GUE Total 6647145—9910–4 (0.714)OHL Total 397226125232349832–27 (0.542)WHL Total 14474541061643–8 (0.273)Junior Total 541300179332966235–35 (0.500)