Predators' Ryan Hartman, Scott Hartnell seek solution to 'Hartsy' dilemma

An empty Chicago Blackhawks equipment bag lay discarded outside the Predators' dressing room in Winnipeg two weeks ago, the last remnant of Ryan Hartman's former life.

Acquired by the Predators in a trade-deadline move, he was one of them now. They welcomed "Hartsy" into the fold.

Slight problem — the Predators already had a “Hartsy.” Scott Hartnell has answered to it since he was a rookie nearly two decades ago.

“I said after the first game in Winnipeg, I’m like, ‘We need a name for this guy,' " Hartnell said. "It is a little confusing if he’s talking to a couple guys over there, ‘Great pass, Hartsy.' I’m like, ‘Oh no, not me.’ "

When your team has lost once in the past three weeks and recently reeled off a franchise-record winning streak, this qualifies as drama.

As a way to avoid further confusion with Hartman, Hartnell has tried to make "Deuce" happen.

“You know, just being the second ‘Hartsy’ here,” Hartnell said.

So has it caught on? Depends on whom you ask.

“There’s a select few that go with it,” Hartman said. “It hasn’t fully stuck yet, but I can definitely see it getting there.”

“I don’t think it has caught any fire,” Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “I haven’t heard anybody call him ‘Deuce.’ I think that’s a one-man mission trying to get that (to) stick.”

Proper names have no place in the dressing room. Hockey players, however, aren’t the most inventive when it comes to assigning nicknames.

“To me, obviously I’ve known (Hartnell) for years," Rinne said. "For me, I always call Scott ‘Hartsy,’ and then (Hartman) so far, I’ve been calling him Ryan.”

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It's pointed out to Rinne that his choice might present another name-related dilemma, seeing as there are three Ryans — Hartman, Johansen and Ellis — on the Predators' roster.

“But I never call ‘Elly’ Ryan,” Rinne said.

This whole thing might seem trivial, but the shared nickname actually can be an occupational hazard. When Predators coach Peter Laviolette is shouting instructions and calling for line changes during games, there's little time to clarify.

“There might have been one time where he said ‘Hartsy' and we had to verify," Hartman said.

“You’d think it’d be easy, Hartman and Hartnell, but you hear the first part and you don’t hear the second half of the name," Hartnell said. "We’ve just got to communicate on the bench and know who’s going out there.”

Nickname aside, Hartman has impressed since being traded to Nashville, playing on all four forward lines and totaling four points in seven games, including two game-winning goals.

Call him whatever you'd like. Just don't call him ineffective.

"He’s a big addition to our club," Hartnell said. "He's going to help us go a long way this year."

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.

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