Wild’s Ryan Hartman to appeal 10-game suspension

The NHL Players’ Association has filed an appeal on behalf of Minnesota Wild right winger Ryan Hartman in an effort to reduce his 10-game suspension for roughing Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle.

Hartman’s appeal will be heard by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who will then have the discretion of maintaining of reducing Hartman’s 10-game ban. Should Hartman’s suspension remain at six or more games, the veteran forward would then have the option to advance his appeal to an independent arbitrator. Bettman last reduced a suspension in 2021 when forward Jason Spezza then of the Toronto Maple Leafs saw his six-game ban lowered to four contests.

Not only would a reduced suspension see Hartman make an earlier return to the Wild lineup, it would also recoup lost wages – given the current length of Hartman’s suspension, he stands to lose more than $487,000. To date, Hartman has missed one game, Tuesday’s 3-0 road loss to the Boston Bruins.

Hartman’s 10-game suspension is the longest ban handed down by the NHL Department of Player Safety since the 2018-19 campaign when Washington Capitals right winger Tom Wilson was banned for 20 games following a blindside hit during preseason play. Wilson’s suspension was later reduced to 14 games by an independent arbitrator. The Capitals forward had served 16 games at the time of the decision.

For Hartman, the 10-game ban marks the fifth suspension of his career and fourth since April 2023. Hartman was most recently suspended for three games last April for unsportsmanlike conduct. Since 2017, Hartman has also been fined seven times by the NHL Department of Player Safety, with his most recent coming last January when he paid out more than $4,400 after high-sticking Winnipeg Jets center Cole Perfetti.

Prior to the outcome of the appeal process, Hartman is eligible to return to the Wild lineup March 9 versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. Through 48 games this season, the 30-year-old has recorded seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points alongside a team-leading 60 penalty minutes.