The conversation was about Leland Irving, about the young goalie’s most recent bump in the road.

But the day after Irving was demoted to the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League, Bob Hartley got rolling and this is what came out — the hurry-up need for change. Everywhere.

“The fact is — three years with no playoffs, no playoff-round (wins) since 2004,” the Calgary Flames coach said Sunday morning outside the visitors’ quarters at the American Airlines Center. “We need to get some answers here. To sit and watch the parade go by . . . like, how long will that go on?

“I never go back home at night or wake up in the morning the day after a game and say, ‘I should have done this. I should have done that.’ I do it. I live with the results, whether they’re good or bad. I’m a guy, I like to be active. We have the flexibility right now to try some stuff. And it sends messages to the rest of the team.”

Which brings things back to Irving.

After Saturday’s practice in Calgary, the 24-year-old had been heaved into the minors. Numbers tell part of the story — 3.33 goals against average, .883. But even Miikka Kiprusoff, playing behind this bunch before hurting his knee Feb. 5 in Detroit, had not fared any better — 3.24, .870.

“He’s done very well,” Hartley said of Irving. “We told him exactly what we told you — that, because of the waiver rules (under which Irving could return to Abbotsford without being exposed to waivers), we had the flexibility of sending him down, to get some games there.

“We want to see what Danny Taylor and Joey MacDonald can bring to us.”

Meaning Taylor — called up Saturday — gets his chance.

After experiencing 20 minutes at the NHL level in 2008 — he permitted two goals on 10 shots in one period of toil for the Los Angeles Kings — Taylor might even receive his first-ever NHL start, possibly as soon as Monday in Phoenix.

“Maybe. Could be,” hedged Hartley, adding that he prefers to pass on any news, good or bad, as soon as possible. “I like to keep my goalies informed. I don’t mind communication. This is a business where they need to know. I’m not a big surprise guy. I don’t like surprises.”

This winter, Taylor’s numbers have been terrific, topping the AHL with a sparkling 1.82 goals-against average.

“I’ve told him that he’s had a great season so far in Abbotsford,” said Hartley. “We had a chance to watch many games on T.V., plus we had a chance to spend a week with him (after he was signed Feb. 6 by the Flames). You know what I like about him? He’s one of those late-bloomers, with the potential of being the next Dwayne Roloson or something like that. I really believe in this.

“And now with our situation in net — with Kipper’s injury — it allows us some flexibility. We want to try some experiments.”

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Rookie Sven Baertschi (hip flexor) is along for the ride on this quickie doubleheader trip.

But he didn’t play Sunday and he won’t play Monday.

“We have him on the road trip because we want him with the team,” said Hartley. “He skated last week, then we got him off the ice . . . because there was too much pain. He’s skated with (Craig Conroy) the last two days. Obviously, the medical staff has a close eye on him. They’re going to ramp him up when they feel he’s going to be good to go.”

Hurt on an innocent play in practice, Baertschi has sat out the past nine dates.

“He’s doing better,” said Hartley. “(Sunday), he’ll be doing stops and starts. The last two days it’s been (straight lines) one end and back.”

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During his time in Atlanta, Hartley’s favourite goalie had always been Kari Lehtonen.

Hartley, in his final full season with the Thrashers (2006-07), trotted out the big Finn 68 times.

But these days a reunion between the Flames skipper and Lehtonen, now the Stars’ first-stringer, appears impossible. Last week in Calgary, Lehtonen was rested (in favour of backup Richard Bachman).

This time, Lehtonen is hampered with a groin injury.

“I talked to Kari (Sunday) morning,” said Hartley. “He’s a good man.”

And a great netminder — if it wasn’t for those health issues.

Lehtonen is currently 7-2-1, with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.

“He’s always been an elite goalie,” said Hartley. “The injuries, they always seem to keep coming back. But he is, technically and talent-wise, one of the top goalies I ever had. When I was in Atlanta, I would put him on the phone with me and Patrick Roy. He was a very young kid when we got him.

“He’s done well, but the injuries have always prevented him from moving to the elite club of his profession.”

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scruickshank@calgaryherald.com

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