{"id":442031,"date":"2026-02-02T21:10:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T21:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/442031\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T21:10:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T21:10:13","slug":"ryan-hartman-is-holding-his-own-while-the-wild-explore-the-trade-market-minnesota-wild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/442031\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Hartman Is Holding His Own While the Wild Explore the Trade Market – Minnesota Wild"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tRyan Hartman<\/a> has proven to be a perfectly capable, if imperfect, placeholder at first-line center for the Minnesota Wild. He has provided Kirill Kaprizov<\/a> and Mats Zuccarello<\/a> with a reliable partner while the organization continues to search for a true No. 1 pivot.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen Dean Evanson first moved Hartman between Kaprizov and Zuccarello in 2021-22, it looked like a short-term experiment. However, the line quickly became one of the Wild\u2019s most dangerous units. Hartman was described<\/a> as the one center who figured out how to play between those two skill wingers, a not-insignificant feat, given how many options Minnesota cycled through.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThat year cemented the template. Kaprizov as the dynamic driver, Zuccarello as the complementary piece, and Hartman, who could forecheck, win pucks, go to the net, and finish enough chances to keep defenses honest. He leaned into that role, recognizing the opportunity that came with riding shotgun on the Wild\u2019s top offensive line and making the most of it.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tCalling Hartman \u201cserviceable\u201d at 1C is not a backhanded compliment; it reflects a player whose mix of skill, grit, and versatility fits what that line needs on most nights. However, he lacks wins in the faceoff circle, where his average hovers around 45 percent. He has repeatedly produced solid point totals at five-on-five, while centering Kaprizov and Zuccarello. In 2022-23, he had a 37-point season in just 59 games, playing predominantly in that role.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tHartman is not a pure play-driving center in the mold of elite No. 1 pivots around the league. Still, he does several small things that make the line function. Hartman tracks back defensively. He\u2019s willing to handle the dirty work on the forecheck and around the crease, and he can finish enough of the chances Kaprizov and Zuccarello create. His underlying profile, average shot volume, respectable shooting percentage, and physical edge reinforce the idea of a dependable top-six forward who can moonlight as a first-line center when the roster demands it.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe last few seasons have shown that Hartman\u2019s hold on the 1C spot is situational rather than permanent, but also that the line rarely collapses with him there. He has started seasons between Kaprizov and Zuccarello, slid down the lineup when his game dipped or when coaches wanted a different look, and then climbed back into a top-six center role when his form and the team\u2019s needs aligned again.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tCoaches have trusted him enough to move him into other spots, such as down to a checking or matchup line in the playoffs, because his game translates up and down the lineup. That flexibility actually underscores his Swiss Army knife-like ability. He may not own the job on name recognition alone. Still, he\u2019s consistently one of the first answers when the Wild need to stabilize Kaprizov\u2019s line or balance the forward group.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tEven as Hartman has held that first-line role at various points, Minnesota\u2019s front office has been open about the need to improve at center and lessen the burden on Joel Eriksson Ek<\/a>. Their reported priority is to add another high-end center through trade to truly anchor the top of the lineup, with names ranging from established veterans to younger options.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tHartman\u2019s presence between Kaprizov and Zuccarello has bought the organization time. Instead of being forced into a desperate move, the Wild have been able to evaluate internal options and selectively explore the market for a legitimate No. 1 center, knowing they can always revert to the familiar Kaprizov-Hartman-Zuccarello trio if other experiments falter.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIn many ways, Hartman is the archetypal bridge player at a premium position: good enough that the team can win with him on the top line, but not so entrenched that he blocks an upgrade if the right center becomes available. His ability to continue playing at a high level when called upon, while still fitting seamlessly into a second or third line role, gives the Wild roster flexibility that many cap-strapped clubs lack.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tUntil Minnesota lands that true No. 1 center, Hartman\u2019s steady, adaptable game will continue to make him a serviceable and often effective option between Kaprizov and Zuccarello. He\u2019s more bridge than destination, but a crucial part of how the Wild have kept their top line dangerous in the interim.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we’ll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ryan Hartman has proven to be a perfectly capable, if imperfect, placeholder at first-line center for the Minnesota…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":442032,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5118],"tags":[5,161,38,5280,4,2029,162],"class_list":["post-442031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-minnesota-wild","tag-hockey","tag-minnesota","tag-minnesota-wild","tag-minnesotawild","tag-nhl","tag-ryan-hartman","tag-wild"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116003092815658516","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=442031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442031\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/442032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=442031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=442031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=442031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}