Ryan Hartman was well aware of Gary Bettman’s track record and how rare it is for the NHL commissioner to shorten suspensions. But that’s exactly what Bettman did Monday, trimming Hartman’s 10-game suspension for roughing Ottawa’s Tim Stützle to eight games to make the forward eligible to return next Tuesday at Seattle.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the suspension of Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman on appeal but reduced the length from 10 games to eight. The NHL Player Safety department announced on Feb. 3 that Hartman was suspended for 10 games for roughing ...

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the suspension of Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman for slamming an opponent's head to the ice, while making the unusual decision on Monday to reduce the penalty from 10 games to the union-recommended eight after ...

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has reduced the suspension of Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman from 10 games to eight games. Hartman was punished for driving the head of Ottawa's Tim Stützle into the ice during a faceoff.