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Nashville Predators: Predlines staff debates impact of younger players

By Corey Francis

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 04: Head coach Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators looks on from the bench during the game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 4, 2018 in New York City. The Nashville Predators won 3-2. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 04: Head coach Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators looks on from the bench during the game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 4, 2018 in New York City. The Nashville Predators won 3-2. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 06: Ryan Hartman #38 of the Nashville Predators skates against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on October 06, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Predators defeated the Islanders 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 06: Ryan Hartman #38 of the Nashville Predators skates against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on October 06, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Predators defeated the Islanders 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Worth the price?

Considering the price that Nashville paid to get him, it better be Ryan Hartman. The Predators acquired Hartman & a fifth-round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks back in February for Victor Ejdell, their first & fourth round picks. He got off to a good start with Nashville, putting up three goals & three assists within his first eleven games with the team. Unfortunately, Hartman played ten more regular season games & accounted for zero of the Predators’ goals or assists. He couldn’t even crack the positive side of the plus/minus stat in a game.

A torn labrum probably played a part in Hartman’s lack of production late in the season. He did get the game-winner in Game 2 of Nashville’s first-round series but missed a number of playoff games due to a suspension, ineffectiveness & bad penalties. (And maybe that shoulder issue, but good luck getting that information out of Nashville.) Ideally, Hartman is a guy you can plug-in anywhere in the lineup & get good solid play out of. He hasn’t shown much of note in the first two games, especially in Game 1 where he & his linemates Nick Bonino & Calle Jarnkrok, struggled to get anything going on either end of the ice. He was more active in the Islanders game, throwing three hits & blocking two pucks.

Freddy Gaudreau could make a big impact on either the Nashville Predators or Milwaukee Admirals’ season, and I wouldn’t be surprised with either outcome. Zac Rinaldo’s role is pretty clear at this point: he’s the new Cody McLeod. You’ll get physical play & silly mistakes. Eeli Tolvanen still needs some time to develop before living up to our hopes of him as a key part of the Predators offense. Barring injury, Ryan Hartman will see more ice time than any of these men. If he doesn’t make a bigger impact than they do, he’s had a bad season.

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