Craig Hartsburg’s an honest guy. He wears it on his sleeve, and he’s wicked smart, too – just as he was during a 10-year playing career that was unfortunately cut short due to injury.
Hartsburg is now 56 years old and serves as John Tortorella’s top assistant (associate) coach on the Blue Jackets’ staff. But 37 years ago, at age 19, Hartsburg was drafted sixth overall by a team known as the Minnesota North Stars.
The North Stars played 26 seasons in Bloomington, Minn. before moving to Dallas in 1993. They were wildly successful, making the playoffs 17 times and twice advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.