“Rare NHL Player Safety W” – Fans react as NHL Department of Player Safety slams Ryan Hartman with 10 game SUSPENSION for roughing Tim Stutzle

Ryan Hartman has been slapped with a long 10-game suspension for roughing Tim Stutzle in the recent Wild-Senators game.

“Rare NHL Player Safety W” – Fans react as NHL Department of Player Safety slams Ryan Hartman with 10 game SUSPENSION for roughing Tim Stutzle

Ryan Hartman (Image via X)

The NHL Department of Player Safety (DoPS) made a massive announcement on Monday. The DoPS slammed Minnesota Wild star Ryan Hartman with a 10-game suspension for roughing Tim Stutzle in a recent game.

On Saturday, the Wild took on the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. With the Sens leading the game 3-0, the visitors needed a spark to try and make a comeback into this game.

YouTube video

While trying to provide this spark, Hartman would deliver a brutal hit on Stutzle. During a faceoff in the second period, he would use his arm and force his head down on the ground.

FS Video

The impact would leave the Sens alternate captain with a cut around his left eye. He would exit the ice field after this and tend to his wound as he kept on bleeding.

The officials would assess a 5-minute major penalty for this. Hartman was also ejected from the game after being assessed a match penalty. At that time, fans would berate him for this move.

The NHL DoPS in their statement condemned Hartman for his actions. They claimed that it not a “hockey play“.

It is important to note that this is not a hockey play. Hartman contends that he is attempting to use his hand to regain his balance using Stutzle for support and that their fall to the ice is accidental. We disagree. He chooses to take advantage of a vulnerable player in an unacceptable fashion.

NHL Department of Player Safety said in their video explantion

Previously, Hartman had been fined 7 times and suspended on 4 occasions. Since April 2023, he has been suspended three times, making him a repeat offender. As a result of this, Hartman has been handed a 10-game suspension from the NHL.

As per reports from NHL.com, Hartman will also forfeit around $487,804.90 of this salary as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and the NHL Player Association. This money will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

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Social media reacts to Ryan Hartman’s long suspension by NHL DoPS

There has been a love-hate relationship between the NHL DoPS and the NHL fans. While sometimes the fans have welcomed their decision, sometimes they have bashed them for their rulings. This time, the latter has happened with many of them being happy with the 10-game suspension decision of Ryan Hartman.

Ryan Hartman
Ryan Hartman (Image via X)

Several fans on X celebrated the Hartman suspension announcement. One fan wrote, “Rare NHL Player Safety W” while reacting to this. Meanwhile, some once again blasted the 30-year-old for his hit on Stutzle.

Check out that and some other top reactions from X below:

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Hartman has 17 points (7 goals and 10 assists) in 48 games this season. The Minnesota Wild currently has a 31-18-4 record after the 6-0 loss against the Senators. With the NHL going on a break due to the 4 Nations Face Off, Hartman will return to NHL action in March.