Chicago Blackhawks’ Future Friday: Ryan Hartman

photo credit: defendingbigd.com

Ryan Hartman

2012-13 OHL Stats

Games: 56

Goals: 27

Assists: 33

Points: 60

PIM: 120

Drafted: First Round, 30th overall, 2013 NHL Entry Draft

Prospect Profile:

Ryan Hartman’s game can be defined with one word: abrasive. The 18-year old can rack up the penalty minutes, but his saving grace is that he racks up the points too. Hartman has a nose for the puck and that takes him anywhere on the ice, always battling hard for possession. At only 5′ 11″, Hartman draws resemblance to current Blackhawk Andrew Shaw, who plays a very similar style, at the height of 5’10”.

Hartman creates opportunities by gaining posession, then taking the puck into scoring postition, either with a good pass or strong skating. Hartman is very solid on the puck, and has great knowledge of where his teammates should be at all times. His good hands are a big asset around the net, and he has a solid shot that can be utilized on the powerplay. Defensively, Hartman skates hard, and has good positional sense.

Road To The NHL:

Hartman started his journey to the NHL not far from the Madhouse on Madison, in the suburb of West Dundee, IL. Hartman played one year with the Chicago Mission U-16 team, recording 46 points and 60 PIMs in 38 games. He was selected by the Plymouth Whalers in the fifth round of the OHL Priority Draft, in 2009-10.

Hartman was then selected to the U.S. National Team Development Program, and spent the majority of the season with the U-17 team. He recorded a team high 34 points, and added 80 penalty minutes, all in 56 games. He played four games with the U-18 squad, recording an assist, and also had 13 points in 13 international games, split between the 2011 U-18 Vlad Durzilla Tournament, the 2010 Four Nations Cup, and the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.

In 2011-12, Hartman would play full time with the NTDP U-18 team, finishing second in points on the club with 41 points in 56 games, and also lead the team in PIMs with 136. Hartman also played in the World U-18 Hockey Championship, scoring two goals and adding four assists with 22 penalty minutes, as the United States won a gold medal. After the season, Hartman chose not to play for Miami University, which he committed to in 2010, but instead signed with the Whalers.

2012-13 was Hartman’s first season in the OHL, and he was an outstanding +29 with 60 points and amassed a whopping 120 penalty minutes, all in 56 games (missed 12 due to injury, and international events). Hartman was a part of the gold-medal winning USA team at the World Junior Hockey Championship, with three points in 7 games. Hartman was selected by the Blackhawks that June, and was unable to take part at team USA’s summer evaluation camp with a recovering shoulder.

Promotion Probablilty: 1/10

Hartman will play in Plymouth for at least one more season, before he makes the jump to the pro ranks. He will end up in Rockford sometime the next few seasons, just an hour down the road from his hometown. For now, Hartman will need to work on his strength, as he gets ready to adjust to the AHL. Hartman is just one of the Blackhawks’ aspiring draft picks in recent years, and will have tough competition in Rockford, and after that, in Chicago. With a great system in place in both cities, Hartman can take his time to develop into the best possible player he can be.

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