SEATTLE — Minnesota Wild’s Ryan Hartman has made his return to the ice following an absence from playing due to an eight-game suspension. Hartman rejoined his team on Tuesday night to face the Seattle Kraken, marking his first game since the beginning of February.
Feeling refreshed and eager, Hartman expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m well-rested. It’s great to be back with the guys.” The 30-year-old player’s suspension stemmed from an incident involving Ottawa Senators’ forward Tim Stutzle. The altercation occurred last month when Hartman roughed up Stutzle by pushing his face into the ice after a faceoff, which resulted in Stutzle receiving bruises and stitches above his left eye.
Initially, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman handed Hartman a 10-game suspension, which was later reduced by two games after Hartman underwent an in-person hearing and based on a union’s appeal. This adjustment marked the first time in over three years that Bettman agreed to shorten a suspension after an appeal.
In his statement regarding the situation, Bettman expressed confidence that the revised ban would serve as a critical wake-up call for Hartman. He emphasized that Hartman needs to reassess his on-ice behavior and implement positive changes to his style of play. Notably, this was the fifth suspension Hartman has faced, with four instances occurring over the past 22 months.
