Ryan Hartman will play his first game against the Blackhawks on Saturday since he was traded to the Predators nine months ago.
Hartman has been looking forward to the game since the schedule was released this summer.
Ryan Hartman on playing #Blackhawks for first time since trade: “This game has been circled for a while on my calendar.”
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 1, 2018
The Blackhawks traded Hartman, who they drafted with the No. 30th overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft, to the Predators in exchange for forward Victor Ejdsell and first- and fourth-round picks in 2018 that turned out to be defenseman Nicolas Beaudin and center Philipp Kurashev.
After being traded, Hartman posted three goals and six points in 21 regular-season games and two goals and an assist in nine playoff contests. The West Dundee native signed a one-year contract worth $875,000 this summer and has scored seven goals and 11 points this season. He’s set to be a restricted free agent after this season.
Two seasons ago, Hartman totaled 19 goals during his rookie season in Chicago as the Blackhawks claimed the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.