That's why I call him a utility forward. He's "capable" of playing multiple roles when needed. He CAN play up the lineup... you just don't want him there long term. If he's there long term, he's going to be exploited by better teams, like we've seen in the post season against teams with real top 6 centers.
It missed the boat. I didn’t ask for a future projection. I asked what he is right now.
Since the 21-22 season, Hartman leads the team in playoff points and has a positive +/-. Highest ppg among forwards with more than 1 game played. Far and away the most even strength points, darn near double each of Kaprizov and Zucc who are tied for second.
It ties directly to you saying “I think Knies will end up MUCH better than Hartman.” Yet, when asked what you view Knies as, you call him a 2nd line forward while Hartman has shown he can be a 2nd line center. You then said that Hartman would get exposed in the playoffs against teams with “real top 6 centers”, creating a verifiably false narrative that Hartman is at best a 3rd line player on a good team.
Because Hartman doesn't drive possession. Hartman was an opportunist at best next to Kap.
Hartman was moved to the Kap line because he was driving offense on the third line, he earned the increased ice time and then kept it for quite a while through good play. He isn’t a true impact 1C but he is a very good player in his own right and you are underselling his performance here.
Yes, he was driving offense from the 3rd line, where he's best suited. He was more of a passenger on the top line, that got to the right spot at the right time while Kap and Zucc did the possession lifting. Then Zucc became bad at possession and the line started to fall because Hartman couldn't pick up the slack in possession.
He can be the 3rd best player without being just an opportunist. I said he'll drive possession. See my last post, when Zucc started to suck at possession, that line fell apart because Hartman couldn't pick up possession slack. Knies is a player who can help pick up slack in terms of possession. It won't be just a two man possession show with Knies just finding the right spot at the right time in the first place.
I think Hartman could be the 6th best top 6 player on a playoff team. Plenty of playoff teams don't have 6 no-brainers in those spots.
Yes, very
Doesn't seem like it, that was also our only good line, sounds like they want more depth this year so they'll try putting Zuccarello back on a line with Kaprizov.
50? Slow that train ; let’s get to 20 /30 first . It’s more his overall skill set that they need .
