It was a tough night for the Minnesota Wild. In Saturday’s matchup against the Ottawa Senators, they suffered a crushing 6-0 defeat. But the loss on the scoreboard wasn’t their only setback—the team is also dealing with the suspension of forward Ryan Hartman.

Hartman, who joined the Wild in 2023, was penalized for a rough incident involving Ottawa’s Tim Stützle. His actions resulted in a match penalty and an in-person hearing scheduled for Monday. At the time of the incident, the Wild were already trailing 3-0, and Hartman’s decision only added to their woes. The situation has sparked plenty of discussion, with many weighing in on the severity of the penalty and its impact on the team.

An insider takes on Hartman’s suspension

Many people have shared their opinions on the situation, sparking debate from different perspectives. One notable comment came from Twitter insider Mark Spector, who weighed in on Ryan Hartman’s actions. Spector discussed whether the situation benefits Hartman and drew a comparison to former NFL player Raffi Torres.

“Big suspension for a dirty player. Hartman is in Raffi Torres territory now. Either this stuff comes out of his game, or he comes out of the game,” he wrote. Here, the term “dirty” refers to his repeated pattern of offensive actions, which have already led to four previous suspensions. The Minnesota player appears to be following in the footsteps of Raffi Torres, who faced a total of ten suspensions during his career. Now, why is Raffi Torres relevant in this context? Is it because of the penalty in question, or does it relate to his infamous 41-game suspension?

Torres, a former San Jose Sharks left winger, received one of the longest suspensions in NHL history during a 2015 preseason game. His illegal hit to the head of Jakob Silfverberg, followed by an interference penalty, led to his immediate ejection. The incident resulted in a severe suspension and a fine, marking a significant moment in NHL disciplinary history—one that continues to be referenced today.

Raffi has a total of ten suspensions, while this marks the fifth for Ryan Hartman. Missing a player like Hartman is a tough blow for Minnesota, especially heading into Saturday’s game.

It’s a 5th suspension for Ryan Hartman

After an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety, Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman has been suspended for 10 games. The suspension stems from an incident at the 20:00 mark of the second period, where Hartman deliberately used his right arm to slam Tim Stützle’s head onto the ice. Stützle was unable to return to the game, and Hartman was assessed a major penalty.

This will mark the fifth suspension of Ryan Hartman’s NHL career and the longest one for an on-ice incident. The NHL Department of Player Safety announced the suspension with a three-day delay. In addition to the ten-game suspension, Hartman will forfeit a significant portion of his income. According to the report, $487,804.90 from his annual salary will be donated to the Player Emergency Assistance Fund.

“It is important to note that this is not a hockey play. Hartman contends that he is attempting to use his hand to regain his balance using Stützle for support and that their fall to the ice is accidental. We disagree.”

Ryan Hartman, whom the Minnesota Wild drafted on a three-year, $12 million contract, will now be sidelined due to his fifth suspension in his NFL career. The team must move forward without him.