NHL justified in massive suspension handed to Wild's Ryan Hartman

In a video announcing the suspension, the NHL decried the dangerous play, emphasizing, "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 Stutzle as support and that their fall to the ice is accidental," the league added.

"We disagree," the NHL retorted.

The league also explained its harsh rebuke of Hartman's on-ice actions stemmed from his troubling, repeated history of infractions. 

"Including the playoffs, Hartman has played 663 NHL games ... he has been assessed supplementary discipline roughly every 60 games," the NHL reasoned.

Hartman, 30, was the No. 30 pick of the 2013 NHL Draft. Before his 10-game suspension, his most recent came in April 2024 after he threw his stick in the direction of a referee following an overtime loss to the Golden Knights. He was suspended for three games.

Based on his history, the league was right not to accept Hartman's version of events. The NHL needed to send a message that it won't tolerate his pattern of unprofessionalism, and a 10-game suspension should drive the point home. If not, Hartman knows his next could be even more severe.