Wild winger Ryan Hartman suspended 10 games for hit against Ottawa

Ryan Hartman was fined $4,250 by NHL Player Safety on Wednesday for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night, and he’s more than happy to pay it.

The Minnesota Wild ends a five-game road trip at the Boston Bruins Tuesday night, and there’s a very good chance they won’t have Ryan Hartman.

The Wild winger was suspended 10 games without pay Monday night for his hit on Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. The two were in the face-off circle late in the second period with the Wild down 3-0 when Hartman locked up his stick, took an elbow to the back of Stutzle’s neck and drove him face first to the ice.

Hartman was assessed a match penalty. According to the NHL Department of Player Safety, "As the puck is being dropped, Hartman immediately takes his right hand off his stick. With Stutzle leaning forward in an attempt to win the face-off, Hartman takes his free hand, puts his forearm on the back of Stutzle's head and uses his bodyweight to intentionally drive Stutzle downward, slamming him face-first into the ice. This is roughing. Hartman chooses to take advantage of a vulnerable player in an unacceptable fashion. Hartman uses his forearm and bodyweight to drive Stutzle's head directly into the ice from a height which makes this play inherently dangerous and unacceptable."

FOX 9 Sports Director Jim Rich and hockey analyst Pat Micheletti talked about the play Sunday night on FOX 9 Sports Now. Hartman is likely to be suspended at least six games.

"Not smart. He knows he has five suspensions from the league, the sixth one is automatic. He’s going to get suspended," Micheletti said.

Hartman is a repeat offender, having been suspended two games in November 2023 for a tripping penalty. He was suspended three games for throwing his stick in the direction of a referee in April 2024. He can appeal the suspension on Tuesday if he so chooses.

Hartman was also fined in January 2024 for a high-sticking incident against the Winnipeg Jets after a hit on Kirill Kaprizov. He's been fined seven times and suspended four times in his career.

Hartman has 17 points in 48 games this season.

Snuggerud having Hobey Baker caliber season?

Why it matters: The Gophers’ men’s hockey team moved up to No. 3 in the national polls and the PairWise Rankings after a weekend sweep of rival Wisconsin. The Gophers got within two points of Michigan State in the Big Ten standings, after the Spartans split with Ohio State last weekend.

Jimmy Snuggerud had a four-point weekend for the Gophers, getting two goals and two assists in Friday night’s 5-2 win. Minnesota got down 2-0 in the first period, then scored five straight. The Gophers got the sweep with a 4-1 win Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Snuggerud’s 41 points on the season leads all of Division I, and his 20 goals are second in the country. He’s a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes annually to the top player in college hockey.

"He’s put himself in a position to be a top guy for the Hobey Baker. He’s had that good a year," Micheletti said.

What’s next

The schedule: The Gophers head to Michigan this weekend. Earlier this season, Minnesota earned a pair of shutout wins over the Wolverines, 6-0 and 2-0.

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