The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has suspended Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman for ten games for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stützle. Hartman was a repeat offender and as a result of his suspension will forfeit $487,804.88 in salary. The money from the fine will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
The incident occurred in a 6-0 blowout on Saturday night that saw Ottawa dominate Minnesota. Near the end of the second period of the game, Hartman took a faceoff against Stützle and immediately jumped on Stützle after the puck hit the ice and drove him straight down, face-first into the ice. Stützle suffered a facial injury on the play and was bleeding from a cut above his eye when he left the ice. Hartman was given a match penalty on the play for attempting to injure Stützle, which put the play under automatic review. He was offered an in-person hearing earlier today.
The suspension is the fifth of Hartman’s career, which certainly played into the length of the suspension. He has also been fined an additional seven times. The DOPS described Hartman’s actions on the play as intentional, inherently dangerous and unacceptable. Hartman and Stützle had an incident earlier in the game when Stützle was given a two-minute penalty for slashing Hartman, which may or may not have played into Hartman’s actions.
Hartman’s last suspension occurred last April against the Vegas Golden Knights when he threw his stick on the ice from the bench toward an official after an overtime loss against the Vegas Golden Knights. Overall, Hartman has received four suspensions in less than two years.
Hartman now will have 48 hours to decide if he wants to appeal the suspension. His first appeal would be to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. The second appeal would be to an independent arbitrator.
Apparently, The sight of blood makes uncle Gary queasy, If you weren’t around for 80s hockey, Like I was, You missed the golden era of the NHL, As far as I’m concerned.
Stupid comment. What he did has no place in hockey.
Uncle Gary gets queasy at the sight of blood, I miss the 80s NHL.
Its really tough to tell if Hartman isnt being honest about losing his balance. That was my first thought before they brought it up.
He does have a history, though, so hes not coming from a position of strength.
Hopefully Stutzle is ok long-term. Such an electric player, love watching him.
Was a dive by Ottawa, you can clearly see him fall and knock his helmet off which caused the blood
He should be banned permanently. He is a criminal abuser with violent tendencies and no self control.
Completely warranted.
shocked thought six max. Totally deserved seriously he did not lose his balance.
4 games less than the Wilson suspension.
But the WWE has signed up Hartman to be a villain during his suspension. :D
Was a Olympic gold medal winning dive by the Ottawa player.
@Never Remember stop being such a soy boy, Suspension was deserved, i only see a dirty hit nothing criminal, you should dust that sand out of your kitty