Wild’s Ryan Hartman Offered In-Person Hearing with NHL DoPS

Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman is facing an in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety following a roughing incident involving Ottawa Senators star Tim Stützle. The league’s decision to offer an in-person hearing indicates the possibility of a suspension exceeding five games, suggesting they intend to hit Hartman with stiff consequences.

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The incident occurred during Minnesota’s recent matchup against Ottawa, where Hartman was assessed a match penalty for an attempt to injure. On the faceoff, Hartman essentially DDT’d Stutzle’s face into the ice, cutting him wide open.

The play was already dirty, but Hartman has a history of crossing the line. And, given Stützle’s recent return from injury, the play seemed even more alarming and, many believe Hartman’s actions were deliberate and dangerous.

This marks Hartman’s fifth career suspension and follows a pattern of questionable on-ice conduct. Earlier in the 2023-24 season, he was fined for an intentional high-sticking infraction off a faceoff. If suspended, Hartman would become the first Wild player to receive an in-person hearing since Matt Cooke’s infamous knee-on-knee hit on Tyson Barrie during the 2014 playoffs.

Hartman Is Likely To Be Sitting For a While

The NHL offers these in-person hearings when they believe that a suspension needs to be longer than a less serious infraction. It gives the NHL DoPS an opportunity for a more thorough examination of the incident and the player a chance to explain what they were thinking at the time of the incident. Given his status as a repeat offender, Hartman could face a ban of six or more games, a significant blow to the Wild’s lineup.

Hartman has seven goals and 17 points in 48 games this season.

The date and time of the hearing have yet to be confirmed.

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