NHL Suspends Ryan Hartman 10 Games for Violent Conduct

Ryan Hartman of the Minnesota Wild has been suspended for 10 games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle, marking the longest suspension for on-ice conduct in over six years. The incident occurred during a face-off, where Hartman was accused of intentionally slamming Stutzle's head into the ice with his forearm, a move deemed 'inherently dangerous and unacceptable' by the league. Hartman will forfeit nearly $488,000 in salary due to his status as a repeat offender, having faced four suspensions since 2023. He has the right to appeal the suspension first to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and then to a neutral arbitrator if necessary. The league emphasized that Hartman's actions were not typical of a hockey play, reinforcing their stance against his aggressive conduct. This suspension comes as the NHL aims to deter similar behavior from players, especially those with previous disciplinary histories.