Preds Excited to Add 'Playoff-Type of Player' in Hartman

The Predators may not know Ryan Hartman personally just yet, but they sure are familiar with him.
Nashville
acquired the 23-year-old forward
on Monday from the Chicago Blackhawks - a divisional rival the Preds saw four times this season, as well as four more occasions last spring - a move to increase depth throughout the Predators lineup as they prepare for another run.
A 6-foot, 181-pound winger, who has eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 57 games with the Blackhawks this season, Hartman fits the bill as a player who can make it uncomfortable for the opposition, a hot commodity come playoff time.

"He's a young player, he's got a lot of grit, lot of sandpaper, good skill level and a playoff type of player," Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette said of Hartman. "He's somebody we feel can fit in with our group here.
"We know what the playoffs are all about. It's about playing the game fast and executing, but it's also about grit and determination and it becomes more physical and more competitive. I think those work to his strengths. He's still a skilled player… but yet he's got a lot of determination the way he plays the game."
Predators players confirmed what Laviolette has seen behind the bench. Hartman, who will wear No. 38 with his new club, isn't fun to play against. Combine that with the ability to put the puck in the net - he had 19 last season with Chicago - and Hartman could be another key piece to the ultimate puzzle.
"He's tough to play against," Preds Captain Roman Josi said of Hartman. "He scored a lot of goals last year, too. I remember from the playoffs he was always hard to play against. He's fast, he plays physical, so he's definitely a great addition for us."
"He's a competitor," center Ryan Johansen said. "Last year in the playoffs, we noticed that he was hard to play against. He works hard and he's got some scoring touch to him as well, so it seems like he'll be a good fit. I'm looking forward to meeting him, and I'm sure he's excited to bring his skillset to our group and just add to our team."
They might be healthy right now, but the Predators General Manager David Poile and his staff are well aware that no team makes a deep run unscathed. Nashville lost forwards Johansen and Kevin Fiala to separate injures during last spring's postseason, and a player like Hartman could end up playing a large role of the need arises.

"We learned a lot last year throughout the whole playoff run with losing Johansen] and [Fiala] and the various other injures we got throughout the playoffs," Preds defenseman Ryan Ellis said. "You want a deep team… We know we have depth, and I think adding a player like Hartman is another great addition to our team."
Combine the acquisition of Hartman with the addition of forward Mike Fisher -
[who inked a one-year deal
on Monday and is expected to make his return from retirement during Nashville's road trip this week - and the Predators figure to be set for the springtime.
Now, with 21 games to go in the regular season, it's time to let it all play out.
"Everything we've done is to make sure we have enough pieces to go the distance," Laviolette said. "There's never any guarantees. Other teams are doing the same thing today, but you see the moves that we make… pick up a player like Hartman, we've still got guys down in Milwaukee that we really trust and have playoff experience, so everything is about the depth as you move into the later part of the season and certainly the playoff run."