It’s been just over 10 days since the Minnesota Wild’s season ended, and the Wild Twitter community is handling it in an interesting way. Over the weekend, #Hartmantwt gained popularity in a certain sector of Wild Twitter, and the pictures and videos still coming out of it are entertaining.
But why Ryan Hartman? And what does it tell us about how Minnesota fans are coping with being out of the playoffs?
Why Ryan Hartman?
He’s a divisive player in the Wild fandom and in the NHL at large. Hartman is physical and has a big mouth, but can also score goals and is a playoff player who goes beast mode in the off-season.
When the Wild were finally out of the playoffs this year, it made sense that fans were looking for something to grasp onto. Hartman is the perfect player for that. He’s gritty and pushes hard. But there’s also something relatable about him. He is hilarious on social media and isn’t afraid to mouth off to opposing players.
During the infamous Wild vs. St. Louis Blues game a few years ago, when Marc-Andre Fleury almost fought Jordan Binnington, Hartman had a hand in throwing Binnington off his game and, ultimately, getting him tossed from the game.
When the Wild on 7th podcast asked him what he said, Hartman revealed that he used psychological warfare by skating by Binnington after the Wild scored and saying things like “It’s okay, you’ll get them next time” and “Keep it up.” Absolutely diabolical.
What Does He Have to Do With Hopecore?
Usually, hopecore is a bit more positive, but this is hockey, after all. Having hope in hockey isn’t all sunshine and daisies. It is fights and blood and players pushing themselves to the limits of what a human body can handle.
In that regard, Hartman fits the bill for Hockey Hopecore. He is objectively a solid middle-six player who has somehow found his way onto the Wild’s top line next to one of the best hockey players in the league today.
He’s mostly cemented his spot through a mix of physical play, enough skill to put up a few points, and a high enough hockey IQ to know when to interrupt the Kirill Kaprizov/Mats Zuccarello back and forth and when just to let them cook.
The Chicago Blackhawks took Hartman in the first round of the 2013 draft. However, he has always seemed like a player who has had to fight for his spot and prove his worth to stick around.
Will We Survive the Off-Season?
Every season, new fans wonder how to survive the off-season. After a long, grueling, 82-game season, it always comes as a shock that one day, it’s just over. It’s almost worse to say goodbye to your favorite team if they make it to the playoffs because you just never know when it will end. Will they be swept in the first four games? Can they make the second round? Will they suffer defeat in the Stanley Cup finals? There’s no way to know!
The only good thing about not making the playoffs is knowing for sure the last time that you’ll see them play.
This season was exciting! It ended in a heartbreaking way, but that’s just how life goes. If we need Ryan Hartman Hopecore to keep up our hopes and spirits for next season, then so be it. Bring on the video edits set to Sabrina Carpenter songs!
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