In case you live under a rock, the Blackhawks traded Ryan Hartman Monday morning to the Nashville Predators for a first-round pick, a fourth-round pick and Swedish winger Victor Ejdsell.
Hartman wasn’t on the ice for morning practice Monday, and that’s what fueled speculation of Hartman’s obvious fate with the trade deadline merely hours away.
Once Hartman’s trade became a reality after practice, there was one Blackhawks player that took the news especially hard — and that was Vinnie Hinostroza.
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Hartman and Hinostroza have a special bond. The two grew up together, played multiple sports together, and then cracked the lineup of their hometown team together.
Hinostroza was in shock when he spoke to the media after practice.
“I don’t really know what to think, I haven’t talked to him yet,” Hinostroza said after practice. “We’re always going to remain best friends. That’s not going to change anything. We’ll always spend our summers together and stuff. … Hopefully, he’s still here and I can give him a hug before he gets out of here, or go get a bite or something.”
Cue: Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself.”
Sun-Times reporter Mark Lazerus tweeted Hinostroza’s quote which caused many hearts to simultaneously break for the Hinostroza and Hartman.
What happened next was a firestorm of gifs that perfectly encapsulated what we all feel:
— Jay Zawaski (@jayzawaski) February 26, 2018
— Ben H 🅱️ (@benh6262) February 26, 2018
— Juliana Nikac (@juliananikac) February 26, 2018
— ✯~Amber~✯ (@Blue_Lynn88) February 26, 2018
— Marion (@FaithMars) February 26, 2018
— ⎊ x-Jamie💍 (@nhltoews19) February 26, 2018
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