Why I Wouldn't Count Out Scott Hartnell in 2013-2014

When looking ahead to the 2013-2014 season, there are many players that Flyers fans will have their eyes on.  The three major acquisitions this year (Lecavalier, Streit, and Emery) have been discussed at length and there is still hype surrounding B. Schenn, Couturier, and Simmonds.  Giroux and Voracek have shown that they are stars and will perform at a high level, while defense and goaltending will always be scrutinized in Philadelphia.  When looking ahead to next season, one name is consistently being left out of the conversation.

Scott Hartnell scored a team-high 37 goals during the 2011-2012 season.  However, he finished the 2012-2013 season with only 8 goals (in 32 games) while being fourth on the team in penalty minutes per game (2:11/game) behind enforcer Jay Rosehill (5:49/game), Zac Rinaldo (2:39/game), and rookie defenseman Oliver Lauridsen (2:20/game).  By all accounts, it was a down year for Hartnell.

It was easy for Flyers fans to have unrealistic expectations of Hartnell going into the 2012-2013 campaign.  In the six seasons prior to the 2011-2012 he averaged roughly 23 goals a year with only one 30 goal season (2008-2009).  Hartnell’s 37 goal season had just as much (if not more) to do with being on a line with future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr and breakout star Claude Giroux than it did with Hartnell being a better player.  Many Flyers fans, myself included, projected that he would put up similar numbers as he continued to play with Giroux. 

The season opener against Pittsburgh solidified this in the minds of Flyers fans.  The Flyers came out with a lackluster first period effort and were down 2-0.  Less than 30 seconds into the second period Hartnell/Giroux struck for the first time.  Hartnell gave Giroux a beautiful saucer pass that he put through the legs of Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.  Little did Flyers fans know it would be over a month until we saw another connection between Hartnell and Giroux.

In the second period of the third game of the season (1/22/13) Hartnell went down with a foot injury that kept him out for 16 games.  He came back a month later (2/23/13), prompting many to say that he rushed his return.  After earning three points (a goal, two assists) in his first three games back, most likely the effects of adrenaline, he earned three points (three goals, zero assists) in the next nineteen games.  Hartnell looked slow and out of place and quickly became a victim of coach Peter Laviolette’s frequent line shuffling.  By the end of the season Simon Gagne had taken Hartnell’s place on the top line.

Hartnell plays an intense style of hockey.  When he gets frustrated that same intensity that should be used for scoring goals becomes undisciplined play and bad penalties.  It should come as no surprise, therefore, that as his production declined, his penalty minutes rose.

Hartnell was one of the only players to reveal any useful information on locker room cleanout day.  He explained that many Flyers problems this year “started with their d-zone” and discussed his own struggles during the lockout.  Most of the Flyers roster was playing hockey somewhere, while Hartnell was not.  Giroux and Briere were teammates in Berlin, B. Schenn and Couturier played for the Phantoms, and Simmonds went on a hockey playing ‘tour’ of sorts with his friend Chris Stewart (of the St. Louis Blues).  Despite having a few options, Hartnell repeatedly delayed joining a team.  On locker room cleanout day he explained how this negatively affected his workout schedule.  He described himself as “disheartened” and “frustrated” while waiting for the lockout to end. He admitted to taking days off and said that his year started slowly and “just snowballed from there.”

As catastrophic as this past year was for Hartnell, there are a few reasons why I would not count him out going into next season.

First, despite his movement through the lines, Hartnell kept his spot on the first power play unit.  The Flyers power play was one of the best in the league last.  Even with acquuisitions of Lecavalier and Steit (both useful power-play options), Laviolette has stated that he does not plan on changing the first power- play unit.  Being on the ice in power play situations will greatly increase his scoring chances and confidence.

Second, in regards to his conditioning, Hartnell learned his lesson.  Both his comments and demeanor during locker room cleanout day suggest that he recognizes his mistakes and plans to fix them.  There will not be a lockout and Hartnell is the depth chart frontrunner to regain his spot on the top line.  Hartnell recognizes his role on this Flyers team.  He is one of the few veterans who was on the 2009-2010 team and is still a very good power forward.  As a leader, Hartnell knows that he must set an example of conditioning for the Flyer’s young core.

Third, Hartnell is not an injury prone player.  Before this season, Hartnell had played in at least 80 games every year since the 2007-2008 season and he averaged 73 games played per year in the six seasons before that, which were his first six in the league.  Only once in his career did Hartnell play less than 60 games in a season (59 in 2003-2004).  His injury last year was a fluke that could have happened to anyone.

Scott Hartnell is in position to have a very solid year in 2013-2014.  He may not match his career high of 37 goals, but he can definitely return to his old form.  Barring injury, I project that Hartnell will score somewhere slightly above his career average, maybe 25-30 goals.  We have seen the magic that he can have with Claude Giroux on the ice, and hopefully we will see it again.