The Dallas Stars have acquired F Ryan Hartman from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for F Tyler Pitlick.
In a way, this trade reminds me of a deal during the draft, in which Chicago and New Jersey flipped John Hayden and John Quenneville. Both Hartman and Pitlick are significantly better, but the concept of the trades are similar. Both bottom six forwards, and RFA and a forward with one year left. Hartman is the RFA, like Quenneville. They also were 30th overall picks in 2013 and 2014, Hartman being picked the year earlier. He had a decent 2017-18 with the Blackhawks before a surprise trade to the Predators. The surprising part of the deal was that Chicago got a first round pick in return. Hartman bombed in Nashville, and was traded to the Flyers for Wayne Simmonds this trade deadline. He has never scored 20 goals, and had a career low point total, despite playing in more games than the NHL schedule consists of. Dallas still gets good value out of him. He isn\’t a bad bottom six winger.
Hartman, 24, scored 12 goals with 14 assists for 26 points in 83 games for the Flyers and Nashville Predators in 2018-19. In his NHL career for the Flyers, Predators and Chicago Blackhawks, the former late first rounder has scored 42 goals with 47 assists for 89 points in 245 games.
Hartman was underwhelming for the Flyers post-trade, scoring just six points in 19 games (though he was better than Simmonds, who he was trading for). Pitlick is a similar player, but costs less. He has one more year left at $1 million, which is less than Hartman will get. The Flyers are looking to save cap room, with about $17 million in cap space. They need to sign Ivan Provorov, Travis Konecny, Justin Bailey and Scott Laughton, plus a backup or 1B goalie to go along with soon to be 21 year old Carter Hart. Pitlick is also a right winger, and will likely will into Hartman\’s spot.
Pitlick, 27, scored eight goals with four assists for 12 points in 47 games. In his NHL career for the Stars and Edmonton Oilers, Pitlick has scored 33 goals with 20 assists for 53 points in 185 games.
CarterHud 