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Nashville Predators: Five players could surprise us this year

By Corey Francis

NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 13: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators waves to the crowd after his overtime game winning penalty shot against the St. Louis Blues during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on February 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 13: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators waves to the crowd after his overtime game winning penalty shot against the St. Louis Blues during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on February 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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WINNIPEG, MB – MAY 1: Ryan Hartman #38 of the Nashville Predators plays the puck down the ice during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 1, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Preds 7-4 and lead the series 2-1. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – MAY 1: Ryan Hartman #38 of the Nashville Predators plays the puck down the ice during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 1, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Preds 7-4 and lead the series 2-1. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /

In the Hart of it all

One player I am excited to see in a Nashville Predators’ sweater for a full season is Ryan Hartman. He is gritty, willing to skate the full length of the ice to disrupt a play. He challenges pucks, gives up the body, and forces his way in front of the net. Hartman is the annoying little brother on the Predators roster.

Do we really know what to expect for Hartman? The young forward only appeared in 21 games for Nashville during the regular season, earning six total points. Yet, for the second straight season, Hartman earned 31 total points. At 23-years-old, Hartman is still learning and growing as a player. He scored 19 goals in 2016-17 while in Chicago, and there are reasons to think he can in Nashville.

If you look at Hartman’s stats during his time with the Blackhawks, he averaged a CorsiFor of 54% and was deployed in the offensive zone almost 60% of the time. In Nashville, those numbers dropped to 49.7% and 45.8%, respectively.

If used correctly, Hartman could achieve 40 points next season. Of course, staying out of the penalty box will help as well.

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