NHL Fans Are Frustrated With Commissioner Gary Bettman for Reducing Ryan Hartman’s Suspension

The NHL is bruised once again as Commissioner Gary Bettman stands neck-deep in the storm. Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman received the original 10-game suspension following his reckless play in slamming Ottawa Senators’ Tim Stützle’s head to the ice during a face-off. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety condemned it as a dangerous and unacceptable act. Then came the shocking twist: Bettman cut the suspension to eight games after an appeal, sending fans into an uproar for what they see as leniency for a repeat offender.
Hartman is no stranger to NHL punishment. Throughout his career, even numerous suspensions and fines have welcomed him, including one early in 2024 for high-sticking another player and a two-game suspension for tripping Alex DeBrincat in 2023. Hartman's many instances of reckless play have often drawn many fans and analysts' interest in giving Hartman another nickname: the most penalized player in the NHL. The Wild organization and its fan base did not argue against that suspension.

Regardless, Bettman's decision to temper the punishment after an appeal did not sit well with the hockey community. Fans went on social media to vent their anger. One fan noted, “This is a terrible look for the NHL. Even Wild fans agreed with the 10-game suspension. Hartman hasn’t learned anything!” Others chimed in about inconsistencies in the way the league hands down punishment, one going so far as to say, “Good thing he didn’t break Stützle’s neck, or they might’ve reduced it to six games.”

Bettman, while acknowledging Hartman had a long list of past bad acts, opted nonetheless to lessen the suspension. This does raise serious questions about his view of player safety and only increases the chorus of critics suggesting the NHL is not consistent in its punishment calls.
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With Hartman’s history of reckless behavior, many feel that this ruling sends an incorrect message—that repeat offenders may still have their penalties rolled back. At a time when the league is trying to emphasize player safety, Bettman's decision surely casts doubt in fans' minds on that account.