Nashville Predators: Why bringing Scott Hartnell back is a win

Of all of  the Nashville Predators’ signings on Day 1 of free agency, bringing back Scott Hartnell might’ve been the best.

During his six-year stint in Nashville, Scott Hartnell was a fan favorite. The big, curly-headed enforcer did it all. He scored, he assisted, and he made his presence known on the ice. In 6 years with the Nashville Predators, Hartnell tallied 93 goals and 118 assists, along with 544 penalty minutes. He consistently contributed 30-45 points every year, while also bringing an energy that cannot be bought.

He would skate hard, shoot hard, and hit hard. Just about everything Scott Hartnell did on the ice was with authority. He won the fans with his play and his personality that might be compared to that of P.K. Subban. He was such an electric player, that it was hard to not love him. As a young Predator fan during his time in Nashville, I remember Scott Hartnell fondly. Times that he scored big goals, laid a huge hit, or beat an opponent into the ice while letting his curly hair fly out from under his helmet.

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My favorite memory of Hartnell came in the second period of a game many years ago. Hartnell scored a goal. The players went back to center ice for the face off, and before the announcer could even read the official scoring to the crowd, Hartnell took the puck straight off the ensuing face off, and scored another goal. This kind of play from Hartnell is what made him a favorite in Nashville, at a time when the city and the franchise were still establishing themselves as a legitimate contenders in the hockey world.

Enough about that. Let’s get down to business.

The Numbers

Scott Hartnell signed a cap-friendly one year, $1 million deal on July 1.

He spent the previous three seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hartnell’s first season in Columbus was his best, as he tallied 60 points in a little over 17 minutes on ice per game. However, since then, his numbers have dropped. Hartnell finished last season with 37 points. That number would’ve been 6th best among Predator forwards this past season.

Hartnell’s drop in production is less a product of his ability, as it came thanks to a drop in opportunities. Hartnell only saw an average of 12 minutes on ice per game last season. Similarly, Hartnell received less chances on the power play. Despite the lower numbers and fewer chances, he still proved to be a valuable asset when he was on the ice. While, his offense slowed last season, Hartnell still was a defensive force. He finished with 94 hits and 40 blocks.

A Closer Look

Since Hartnell had less minutes on the ice, you really have to look deeper into those minutes to see the true value in Hartnell’s game. Hartnell tallied the 8th best points per 60 minutes this past season with an astonishing 2.32

. With that kind of production at 35 years old, and for only $1 million, Hartnell seems like a steal.

One of the best parts of the Hartnell signing, is that Hartnell played for Predators head coach Peter Laviolette for five seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers.  During his time under Laviolette in Philadelphia, Hartnell recorded the best season of his career, where he scored 37 goals and had 30 assists in 2011-2012. With prior experience under Laviolette, and good success with him, a Laviolette-Hartnell reunion, might be a great asset for the Predator offense.

With the addition of Nick Bonino and Scott Hartnell, the Predators have more than filled the void left by James Neal. Similarly, if Mike Fisher chooses to retire, the Predators should be in good shape thanks to these two signings.

Nashville Reunion

All in all, bringing Scott Hartnell back to Nashville is a strong move for the Predators. He still has good hockey left in him, and a yearning for a Stanley Cup that can hopefully be filled. He plays hard-nosed hockey, brings a veteran’s leadership, and an unmatchable energy, that the fans love. I personally cannot wait to see Hartnell suit up in Predator gold this fall. This move seems like a winner, and one that will add some excitement to an already buzzing franchise. October 5th can’t come fast enough.

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Welcome home, Scott.