Before the controversy, Ryan Hartman was a name that was well-established for having a physical, rough-playing style of hockey. The 29-year-old Minnesota Wilds winger has earned a name for himself as a hard-fisted competitor, not afraid of contact at any point in a game. Through the years, his rough style of play earned him both accolades and criticism, with several instances in the past of near-misses and scrappiness-filled confrontations.

However, his most recent in-game encounter with Tim Stützle lit a much larger firestorm. The incident, a match penalty (which automatically disqualifies him from the rest of the game and triggers a review by the NHL Department of Player Safety) and one that will soon probably follow him with a suspension, generated strong reactions in both camps. Was it part of the game, or did Hartman cross?

Ryan Hartman’s controversial action fuels speculation about suspension

The Minnesota Wild’s 6-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators took a violent turn when winger Ryan Hartman delivered a vicious hit to Tim Stützle during a faceoff in the closing seconds of the second period. As the Wild struggled to make any headway, Hartman appeared visibly frustrated and took matters into his hands—dumping Stützle onto the ice and then dropping an elbow onto the base of his head.

The officials did not flinch, handing out a match penalty to Hartman, effectively sending him out of competition. Stützle, having received a headshot, surprisingly played through the problem, a demonstration of determination in the face of adversity. In contrast, nothing about Hartman’s actions escaped the NHL’s Department of Player Safety’s radar. The forward will have an in-person hearing, and a long-term suspension is a definite strong possibility.

With Hartman’s history of roughhousing, everyone waited for consequences. Everyone’s not in harmony, however—while a lot have considered the blow ungentlemanlike and perilous, many have judged the reaction overblown. Everyone in the hockey universe is buzzing, and no one’s been afraid to voice an opinion about it.

“Aggravated Assault?” fans in an uproar over Minnesota Wild’s forward’s suspension controversy

Hartman’s actions have drawn a heated reaction, with social media followers arguing whether a multi-game penalty is warranted for him or not and whether the hit was part of the game or not. There have been numerous persons who believe in issuing harsh penalties, but numerous persons believe that criticism is excessive. “Not his first cheap shot faceoff (Cole Perfetti), and this one was disgusting, obviously see him drop an elbow to the head in the back after getting frustrated. That’s not cool.” The rough style of Hartman has been questioned in the past, and critics cite examples in the past to use them as an indication of him having a careless disposition. With an in-person hearing handed out in this case, it looks like the league is taking it seriously.

“In what universe is that a suspension?” Others bristle at the notion that the Minnesota Wild’s forward’s hit deserves a long-term suspension, arguing whether it was any worse than most high-energy collisions in hockey. Others insist that an in-game penalty will suffice. “5 games will suffice.”A resolution is emerging, with advocates suggesting a fair penalty—not enough to make a big statement but not enough to derail Hartman’s campaign.

“I know Hynes criticized the whole group for being soft, but I don’t believe that message was aggravated assault.” The reaction perfectly sums up the disappointing performance of the current season for the Wild. Hynes, head coach, publicly criticized a lack of grit in the group, but possibly Hartman overacted a little too much. “Totally uncalled for; and disgraceful. But 5 or more?” Most regard Hartman’s blow as having gone over the edge but wonder out loud whether an overreaching penalty is in store. Fans and observers have witnessed a spotty record when it comes to NHL rulings, and everyone wants to know how this one will unfold.

With Hartman’s hearing impending, Minnesota waits for a decision from the NHL. In case he’s handed a stint of several games off, the Wild will have to make a swap for his presence in terms of rough and tumble work—most particularly in a desperate quest to preserve playoff hope. Regardless of whether or not the penalty is severe, one fact is certain: conversation about Ryan Hartman’s most current on-ice shenanigans won’t fizzle out anytime soon.