Minnesota Wild’s Ryan Hartman is in the spotlight again but for all the wrong reasons. Having delivered a disputed hit to Ottawa Senators’ Tim Stutzle, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety handed him a record 10-game suspension and a financial penalty of $487,804.90. The act took a stir in the league, and it’s a record in the Minnesota Wild’s franchise history.

Hartman’s aggressive manner of play has been a staple of his career for a long time, but in this most recent episode, concerns have been increased about whether he’s crossed a boundary. The NHL’s statement was condemnatory, describing his actions as “inherently dangerous and unacceptable.” Slamming Stutzle’s head onto the ice in such a manner was deemed an unnecessary act of brutality and not a fair move in a hockey game. With his current team in a position of vulnerability in the standings, having one of its seasoned forwards out for 10 games could have catastrophic consequences.

For many, such a suspension did not arise out of thin air. Ryan Hartman’s disciplinary record with the NHL is long, and it is not even a first for him with the league. In November 2023, he earned a two-game suspension for tripping penalty, and a matter of months later, he found himself in even deeper hot water. In April 2024, Hartman earned a three-game suspension for throwing a stick at a referee, an act that earned him widespread criticism in and out of the league.

In addition to these suspensions, he has been fined numerous times for dangerous plays, including high-sticking, unsportsmanlike behavior, and careless checking. Perhaps most notoriously, in January 2024, he was fined $4,427.08 for high-sticking Winnipeg Jet Cole Perfetti. That episode became even more contentious when Hartman confirmed that he was retaliating for a cross-check in a previous contest. That fact of such a deliberate act only fueled controversy, confirming him as one of the most volatile players in the league.

Even before the most current incident, Ryan Hartman had accumulated seven penalties and five suspensions in his career. Apparently, no one in the league wants to have patience with him any longer, and with such a harsh penalty for the most current infraction, repeat offenders will no longer be tolerated.

What’s next for Ryan Hartman and the Wild?

With Hartman out for 10 games, the Minnesota Wild must endure it. With the team having a problem staying in contention in the Western Conference playoff picture, a loss for a long stretch of a proven winger can hurt them immensely. As much as Hartman’s willingness and aggressiveness in using his body have been positive for them at times, not being able to restrain himself is becoming a real issue for them at the current moment.

There is, of course, also the question of how Ryan Hartman will adjust when he returns. With this most current suspension at a career-high, he will have to possibly retool his style of play. On this current path, his NHL role could be at risk of being compromised. Warnings have been consistently sounded in the league that such actions, specifically retaliatory actions, will not be tolerated, and Hartman will run out of room to make a case for himself that he can make an adjustment.

For now, the Wild will have to manage with him gone. How and whether Hartman can rebuild trust with coaches, teammates, and the league will have to be seen, but one thing is for sure—this most current suspension shone a spotlight on his career, and whatever move comes next will be its most important one yet.