The National Hockey League (NHL) Department of Player Safety announced Monday that Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman has been suspended three games for unsportsmanlike conduct during Saturday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The incident DOPS is referring to is near the end of the game when Hartman threw his stick toward the refs in frustration. DOPS also said that Hartman was verbally abusing the officials.
Hartman has been suspended three times and fined seven times by the league throughout his career. The 29-year-old was previously fined $4,427.08, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement for purposely high-sticking Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti off a face-off draw back in January. Hartman has a history of fines and suspensions in the NHL, he was most recently suspended earlier this season for two games for slew-footing Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat.
Most notably in 2022 following a fight with Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane, Hartman threw the middle finger up as a taunt, a gesture that was immediately knocked down by the official. Hartman described the incident as “well worth it.”
Hartman currently has 19 goals and 23 assists for 42 points in 68 games this season. Hartman signed a three-year, $12 million contract extension with the Wild that takes effect in the 2024-25 season, the contract has an average annual value (AAV) of $4,000,000.
The Hilton Head Island, South Carolina native was initially selected in the first round, No. 30 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2013 NHL Draft. Hartman spent his draft year in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the now-defunct, Plymouth Whalers, where he notched 60 points in 56 games and was named to the CHL Top Prospects Game. Hartman captured a gold medal at the World Juniors with the United States that same season.
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