Wild head coach speaks on decision to scratch Ryan Hartman on Thursday night

Minnesota Wild head coach Dean Evason has made it clear recently with postgame comments that he hasn't been happy with Ryan Hartman's play as of late, and he is proving his point by holding him out of the lineup on Thursday night.

The Wild are preparing to take on the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, and will be doing so without Hartman, who will be made a healthy scratch. It is a rather surprising development, though the 28-year-old hasn't played at the same level he did a season ago, registering just five goals and 14 points in 25 games so far. In the season prior, he had recorded career highs with 34 goals and 65 points.

This frustration from Evason stems from Hartman spending far too much time in the penalty box as of late, having racked up 21 penalty minutes over the past three games. The good news in this is that Hartman himself said he understands where his coach is coming from, going as far as to say he would have made the same decision if roles were reversed.

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