Fansided

One player on each NHL team that should be traded

By Jeremy Lambert

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 07: General manager of the Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin addresses the media prior to the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 07: General manager of the Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin addresses the media prior to the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – JANUARY 18: Scott Hartnell #17 of the Nashville Predators skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Arizona Coyotes at Bridgestone Arena on January 18, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – JANUARY 18: Scott Hartnell #17 of the Nashville Predators skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Arizona Coyotes at Bridgestone Arena on January 18, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Nashville Predators. Scott Hartnell. 15. player. 151. . LW

I know Predators fans love Scott Hartnell. He was drafted by Nashville in 2000. He battled with the team through those tough early years. He really hit his stride as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers before starting to tail off in Columbus. And now he’s back in Nashville for one more run with the team he started with.

It’s a great story. It would be an even better story if he were to win a Stanley Cup and ride off into the Nashville sunset.

His happy ending should not matter to the Predators. Improving their team in order to get back to the Cup Finals is their ultimate goal. And that may mean dealing Hartnell.

Here’s what my Nashville Predators friend texted me when I asked about the possibility of trading Hartnell, “I wouldn’t be heart broken if they did.”

Loyalty is a myth in sports. Players have to do what is best for their career and teams have to do what is best for their franchise. Trading Hartnell for a player who can actually contribute may not speak highly of Nashville’s loyalty, but it would speak volumes about their desire to win. And winning is the most important thing in sports.

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The Predators don’t want to part with their young talent that ensures their window is open for the next five-seven years. They don’t need a veteran presence who has playoff experience. Their core got all the experience they’re going to need, last season. They need players who can get them over the hump.

Scott Hartnell is not that guy. And Mike Fisher’s return makes it easier for them to cut bait with Hartnell.

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