TRADE: Blackhawks Trade Hartman To Nashville
The Chicago Blackhawks have traded forward Ryan Hartman and a 5th round pick in the 2018 Draft to the Nashville Predators for a 1st and 4th round pick in the 2018 Draft and prospect Victor Ejdsell.
The rumors have been out there for a couple weeks now that the Blackhawks could look to move Hartman, and that is what they did. We looked at this a couple days ago, and like it says in the article, the return was too much to pass up.
Hartman broke out last season, and while he has seen a decline this year, has looked like one of the teams best young forwards this year. At only 23, he has shown he can be a solid third line forward who can play center or wing. He is set to be a RFA after the season, and likely will be paid in the $2–3 million range.
But with a crowded top 9, the Blackhawks had the ability to shop some of their young players, and gaining a first round pick out of the Hartman is an excellent return. His return is arguablly better than what the Buffalo Sabers got for Evander Kane and what the St. Louis Blues got for Paul Stastny.
After losing their second round pick in a trade with Montreal last season, the Blackhawks now have 8 picks in this upcoming draft. Their new first round pick will make up for the loss of their second, and pretty much move up from the 5th round to the 4th.
The prospect involved, Victor Ejdsell, is different than many of the prospects in the Blackhawks pipeline. At 22, Ejdsell is a big bodied center, 6'4, who sees the ice well and plays a solid 2 way game. He has been a offensive weapon in his time with Sweden, but is expected to play more of a bottom six role once he makes the adjustment to North American hockey.
While many fans will be sad to see Hartman leave, especially to a division rival, Bowman took advantage of the opportunity to turn a third line winger into a first round pick and more. What they do with this pick and what Edjsell becomes will detrermine the winner of this trade, but it is looking like an early success.
What do you think of the trade? Did the Blackhawks get enough value? Let us know in the comments below!
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