For the casual observer the Ryan Hartman signing goes by as another line item in the transaction section. However this is a significant signing for both Hartman and Bill Guerin's Minnesota Wild.
Hartman is a former first round pick (#30, 2013) of the Chicago Blackhawks, where he began his career playing parts of four seasons with the Hawks before being dealt to Nashville at the 2018 trade deadline, as a cap casualty for the financially strapped Blackhawks at the time. From Nashville he was dealt to Philadelphia the following year at the deadline as well once again due to Hartman's impending UFA status.
When Hartman hit the open market, then Wild GM, Paul Fenton quickly signed him to a 2-year contract with an AAV of $1.9M per season. Hartman fit in immediately with his new team and found a role as a bottom 6 winger who could kill penalties, play the game with an edge when needed to stir things up, while adding an offensive flair despite his limited minutes.
This season Hartman's role has expanded and has filled in very nicely at center. Hartman as I have referred to here before is the Wild's, Swiss Army Knife, doing anything and everything that isnasked of him from playing top six minutes to moving from wing to center, to being the agitator when needed to spark the team, all while displaying speed and skill leading to the best offensive production of his career.
Teams that have success when it matters most have complete rosters with top tier talent leading the way of course but they also have deep lineups filled with talent, grit, tenacity, heart, and will. Ryan Hartman is that guy for the Wild and this signing secures his presence in the Wild lineup for the next three seasons at a very reasonable cap hit of $1.7M per year.
Tonight the Wild get after it in LA vs the Kings and then to San Jose tomorrow before returning home to begin the key four game stretch with the Blues which now will begin on Wednesday rather than Monday as that game has been moved to Thursday to allow the Blues and Avalanche to reschedule their game that was postponed due to Colorado's COVID-19 outbreak.
The playoffs are all but sealed so the goal now shifts to trying to move up in the standings to potentially secure home ice in the first round. These games are all important and playing the right way is what Dean Evason and his staff are preaching and expecting every night, regardless of the opponent.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!