Philadelphia Flyers Trade Ryan Hartman

The Philadelphia Flyers have decided to move on from Ryan Hartman just a few months after acquiring him. The young forward is on his way to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Tyler Pitlick. Hartman is a restricted free agent this offseason, and was part of the deal that saw Wayne Simmonds head to the Nashville Predators at the trade deadline.

Hartman, 24, has now been part of four NHL organizations since being selected 30th overall in 2013. Reaching a career-high 19 goals and 31 points with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016-17, he hasn’t been able to replicate that kind of production in Nashville or Philadelphia. In fact, Hartman recorded just 26 points total in his most recent season and didn’t find a great fit offensively with the Flyers. Still, his physical style still brings some potential to slide into the Stars’ top-nine and provide something that the team covets.

The fact that he is a restricted free agent shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle, but does likely mean that the Stars are taking on some salary in the deal. Pitlick was in the final season of a three-year deal that carries a $1MM cap hit, making him an affordable depth forward for the Flyers. Pitlick played 47 games for the Stars last season, recording 12 points but still providing a physical edge. The 27-year old has never been much of an offensive threat, recording a career-high 27 points in 2017-18.

While Hartman hasn’t lived up to his potential so far, this is quite a drop in value over the last few years. The Predators originally acquired him from the Blackhawks in 2018 in exchange for a package including Victor Ejdsell and a first-round pick, while he then landed them coveted deadline acquisition Simmonds a year later. While Pitlick will surely play for the Flyers, he doesn’t represent the kind of upside many believed Hartman to have just a few seasons ago.