Ryan Hartman's 10-Game Suspension Surprisingly Shortened by NHL
(Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Ryan Hartman is currently serving a 10-game suspension
  • However, the NHL has shortened it to just eight games
  • Read on for the full scoop

Minnesota Wild winger Ryan Hartman is known as one of the dirtiest players in the NHL, so when he was suspended 10 games in early February for shoving Tim Stutzle’s face into the ice, it came as no surprise. However, the league has changed its tune on the situation.

Gary Bettman announced Monday in a statement that Hartman’s suspension will be reduced to eight games.

Via Pierre LeBrun:

When the play happened, Hartman was given a match penalty for an “attempt to injure”. After a face-off towards the end of the second period in a February 1 matchup with the Ottawa Senators, the 30-year-old instantly went for Stutzle’s head instead of the puck:

Stutzle was bleeding heavily but ultimately stayed in the game. The Sens hammered Minnesota that day, winning 6-0. Most NHL fans certainly agreed with the initial suspension considering Hartman is a repeat offender.

This was the fifth time in his career he’s been suspended and we’ve seen him many times before pull off dirty plays on the ice. It’s nothing new from Hartman. That’s why it’s surprising the NHL is allowing him to return to the Wild lineup sooner than expected.

Ryan Hartman had to give up $487,804 of his salary following the incident. The winger is having a quiet season offensively, scoring seven goals and supplying 10 assists in 48 games. That’s compared to 45 points in the 2023-24 campaign.

He’s now eligible to be back in the fold for Minny on March 4 when they face the Seattle Kraken.  The Wild are 3-1-0 without Hartman, who joined the organization in the summer of 2019 as a free agent.