“Common Bettman L” – NHL fans SLAM Gary Bettman as Commissioner reduces Ryan Hartman’s 10-game suspension to 8 games

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has reduced the suspension of Minnesota Wild star Ryan Hartman from 10 games to 8.

“Common Bettman L” – NHL fans SLAM Gary Bettman as Commissioner reduces Ryan Hartman’s 10-game suspension to 8 games

Ryan Hartman and Gary Bettman (Image via X/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made a major move on Monday. The NHL’s top boss reduced the 10-game suspension of Minnesota Wild forward star Ryan Hartman to 8 games.

During the start of the month, Hartman was involved in a huge incident in the game against the Ottawa Senators. The forward player would flare up the tempers in this match while making an illegal move on Tim Stutzle.

YouTube video

With this team 3-0 down in the second period, Hartman was trying to raise the spirit of his team. In a face-off, he tried to gain advantage of the situation and ended up pushing the head of Stutzle down on the ice field.

FS Video

Stutzle would skate off the field and was busted open near his left eye. After video review, the referees would eject him from the game. Meanwhile, fans would slam the 30-year-old for this on social media.

The Department of Player Safety (DoPS) would later conduct a meeting with Hartman. Due to him being a repeated offender, the body handed him a 10-game suspension. In the video explanation regarding this ruling, the DoPS condemned Hartman and claimed it was not a “hockey play“.

Now this 10-game ban of Hartman has been reduced to 8 games by Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Although I conclude that an escalation from Mr. Hartman’s prior three (3) game suspension to ten (10) games is not proportional here, I find that an eight (8) game suspension is both appropriate and supported by clear and convincing evidence… I do find that an increase of seven (7) games from Mr. Hartman’s last suspension to this one is excessive in this case and that the quantum of increase should be reduced.

Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement released by NHL Public Relations

Speaking of that Wild-Senators game, things got even bad to worse for the Wild. After losing Hartman, they team conceded three more goals and ended up losing the game 6-0.

Fans unhappy with Ryan Hartman’s suspension being reduced to 8 games

Fans on social media were left irate after Ryan Hartman delivered a huge hit on Tim Stutzle. Many users would criticize him for this and urged the NHL DoPS to slap him with a long suspension. They got their wish as he was handed a 10-game ban. With this now being reduced to 8 games, the fans once again voiced their displeasure.

Ryan Hartman
Ryan Hartman (Image via X)

NHL fans on X once again attacked Commissioner Gary Bettman. In the past few years, they relationship between the fans and Bettman has been a bit ‘rocky’. Several people have asked for him to resign from his position.

With him reducing the suspension of Hartman, fans once again took a shot at him. Many harshly criticized this decision. One user wrote, “Common Bettman L” to make their feelings known regarding this.

Check out that and some other reactions from X below:

Hartman has already served three games of his suspension. Following this ruling, he will serve an additional 5-game ban and will be eligible for selection for Wild’s game against the Seattle Kraken on March 4.