Ryan Hartman
The Blackhawks drafted Ryan Hartman 30th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Since the Blackhawks had just won their second Stanley Cup in four years, they selected at the very bottom of the first round. Despite this, they managed to snag one of the better picks in the second half of the first round.
Hartman had just finished a season with the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL, where he managed to score 60 points in 56 games. He had previously played for the U.S. National U18 Team for two years, but he was noticed by OHL scouts who wanted to bring his game to a larger audience. Hartman did not disappoint in the two seasons he spent as a Whaler. Following a 53 point season, he signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.
During Hartman’s time with the Blackhawks, he always managed to be an impact player but never broke out into star territory. He consistently produced points, but he never played above and beyond the expected level. Regardless, being the final pick of the first round, he fit the mold for what can be expected of a player drafted in that position. However, the Blackhawks believed Hartman could be shipped off for higher value, so they found a trade.
On February 26th, 2018, Hartman was packaged with a 2018 fifth-round pick to the Nashville Predators for Victor Ejdsell, a 2018 first-round pick, and a 2018 fourth-round pick. After spending some time with the Predators and the Flyers, Hartman tested free agency in 2019. He landed a five-year, $1.7 million average annual value contract with the Minnesota Wild. He has been showing more offensive upside with the Wild, and it appears he may not be done developing as a player just yet.
Hartman’s best year was the 2016-17 season, where he scored 31 points in 76 games with the Blackhawks.