Ryan Hartman Bio
Ryan Keyes Hartman (born September 20, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hartman was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round (30th overall) of the 2013 NHL entry draft and made his NHL debut in 2015 for the Blackhawks. He holds the distinction of being the first player in NHL history to be born in the state of South Carolina. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing around 197 pounds, he shoots right-handed and has built a reputation as a physical, energetic forward.
Early Life and Background
Hartman was born on September 20, 1994, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, but was raised in West Dundee, Illinois, by his parents Craig and Kim Hartman. Growing up near Chicago, he became a fan of the Chicago Blackhawks, the team he would later join as a professional. He attended William Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois, another suburb of Chicago, where he continued to develop his game.
Hartman began ice skating at the age of three and played minor ice hockey with several Chicago-area teams, most notably the Chicago Mission. With the Mission, he won several state championships and became friends with fellow future NHL players Nick Schmaltz and Vinnie Hinostroza. As a 13-year-old, Hartman also played football for the Bloomingdale Bears youth football team alongside Hinostroza, showing the athletic versatility that later defined his physical playing style.
Path to Hockey
At 15, Hartman joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), and his family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to support his development. His father built an outdoor ice skating rink in the backyard of their Michigan home, and Hartman used the rink to sharpen his shooting technique. During the 2011–12 NTDP season, he was second on the team with 38 points in 55 games, establishing himself as one of the top young American prospects.
Originally committed to playing college hockey for the Miami RedHawks in NCAA Division I, Hartman later de-committed to join the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League for the 2012–13 OHL season. He was invited to the CHL Top Prospects Game and represented the United States at the IIHF World U20 Championship, winning a gold medal. Rated as a top prospect, he fulfilled expectations by being selected in the first round of the 2013 NHL entry draft.
Ryan Hartman Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
On November 18, 2013, the Chicago Blackhawks signed Hartman to a three-year entry-level contract, beginning his professional career. He spent the remainder of that season developing in the junior ranks before earning his first NHL opportunity. Hartman made his NHL debut on February 13, 2015, against the New Jersey Devils, marking the start of his top-level career.
During his early seasons with the Blackhawks, Hartman split time between the NHL and the American Hockey League, working to refine his game and adjust to the pace of professional hockey. His physical approach and willingness to play in tough areas caught the attention of coaches and helped him earn a more permanent role with the team.
Chicago Blackhawks Breakthrough (2016–2018)
Hartman began the 2016–17 NHL season with the Blackhawks, where the team looked to feature his physical play style after trading away Andrew Shaw in the offseason. He scored the first goal of his career against Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues during the NHL’s season opener on October 12, 2016. Hartman then scored his first career hat trick against the Nashville Predators on January 8, 2017, and finished the season with 19 goals and 12 assists.
During the 2017–18 season, Hartman recorded eight goals and 17 assists in 57 appearances for the Blackhawks, primarily skating as a bottom-six forward. On February 26, 2018, Hartman was traded, along with a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL entry draft, to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Victor Ejdsell and first- and fourth-round picks in 2018. He appeared in 21 regular season games for Nashville, tallying three goals and three assists, and was suspended for one game during the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs after delivering an illegal check to Carl Soderberg.
Nashville, Philadelphia, and Dallas (2018–2019)
In the 2018–19 season, at the NHL trade deadline on February 25, 2019, the Predators traded Hartman, along with a conditional fourth-round pick in 2020, to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Wayne Simmonds. He added two goals and six points through 19 games with the Flyers as the club missed the playoffs. On June 24, 2019, Hartman was dealt by the Flyers to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Tyler Pitlick.
The following day, Hartman was not tendered a qualifying offer from the Stars, enabling him to become a free agent on July 1, 2019. This stretch of three teams in one calendar year illustrated the turbulent middle period of his career, but also set the stage for a longer-term opportunity.
Minnesota Wild Era (2019–Present)
On the opening day of free agency, Hartman was signed to a two-year, $3.8 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2019. He quickly became a fixture in the Wild lineup, bringing energy and physicality to the forward group. On April 22, 2021, Hartman signed a three-year, $5.1 million contract extension with the Wild, and on October 7, 2023, he signed a three-year, $12 million contract extension, signaling the organization’s commitment to his role.
Hartman’s Wild tenure has also included several disciplinary incidents. In late December 2023, he was accused of intentionally attempting to injure Cole Perfetti of the Winnipeg Jets, leading to a fine of $4,427.08 from the NHL. On April 1, 2024, he received a three-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct after throwing his stick from the bench while berating referees. On February 1, 2025, in a game against the Ottawa Senators, Hartman was assessed a major match penalty for an attempt to injure Tim Stützle, and on February 3, he was suspended for 10 games by the NHL, marking his fourth suspension since 2023.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hartman is best known for his physical, high-energy approach to the game, playing a robust style that combines forechecking, board play, and an unwillingness to back down from opponents. He has developed into a reliable bottom-six and middle-six forward capable of contributing offensively while matching up against top lines. His right-handed shot and willingness to engage physically make him a versatile piece in the Minnesota Wild forward group.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hartman became the first player in NHL history to be born in the state of South Carolina, a unique distinction that traces back to his birth on Hilton Head Island. He scored his first career NHL goal on October 12, 2016, against the St. Louis Blues, and recorded his first career hat trick on January 8, 2017, against the Nashville Predators. Internationally, he won gold medals with the United States at both the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships and the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Ryan Hartman Career Wins
Hartman’s career highlights are defined more by consistent physical play, offensive contributions, and international gold medals than by major individual trophies. He has posted double-digit goal totals in multiple NHL seasons and has been a steady contributor for the Minnesota Wild since 2019. His international resume includes three gold medals with USA Hockey at the U18 and World Junior levels.
National Hockey League Highlights
Across his NHL career, Hartman has recorded his first goal, first hat trick, and multiple multi-goal seasons, including a 19-goal campaign in 2016–17 with the Chicago Blackhawks. With the Minnesota Wild, he has continued to contribute offensively while serving in a top-nine forward role. His postseason appearances include time with the Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Other Wins & Performances
At the junior level, Hartman won multiple state championships with the Chicago Mission and earned selection to the CHL Top Prospects Game during his time with the Plymouth Whalers. Internationally, he helped the United States win gold at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships, the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and contributed four points in five games at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Ryan Hartman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hartman was raised by his parents Craig and Kim Hartman in West Dundee, Illinois. His father played an active role in his development, building an outdoor ice skating rink in the backyard of their Ann Arbor, Michigan, home when Hartman joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Hartman has a younger brother, Tanner, who, as of the 2024–25 NCAA season, plays hockey for the Brown Bears in the ECAC, continuing the family’s involvement in the sport.
Personal Life
Beyond hockey, Hartman has maintained close friendships from his youth, including a longstanding bond with Vinnie Hinostroza, a teammate from his Chicago Mission and Bloomingdale Bears football days. His path from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to professional hockey in the Midwest reflects a family willing to relocate to support his athletic development, first to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and later through multiple NHL cities.
2025 Season Performance
Hartman entered the 2024–25 NHL season as a veteran presence for the Minnesota Wild under his three-year, $12 million contract extension signed in October 2023. His role within the forward group remained consistent, providing physicality, energy, and secondary scoring while logging important minutes in all situations. The Wild continued to rely on his experience alongside top players such as Kirill Kaprizov.
On February 1, 2025, Hartman was involved in a major incident against the Ottawa Senators, receiving a match penalty for an attempt to injure Tim Stützle, which led to a 10-game suspension from the NHL beginning February 3, 2025. The suspension was his fourth since 2023, reflecting both his physical style and the disciplinary scrutiny that has accompanied his Wild tenure. Despite the incident, Hartman remained a key figure in the Wild lineup upon his return.
Looking ahead through the remainder of 2025, Hartman is expected to continue serving as a physical, top-nine forward for the Wild, with his contract running through the 2025–26 season. His combination of offensive production and edge-of-the-line play will remain central to Minnesota’s identity as they pursue a deeper playoff run.
