The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced that Ryan Hartman, forward for the Minnesota Wild, will be suspended for two games without pay. This comes after tripping Alex DeBrincat in the Wild’s game against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, November 26th.
This will especially come as a blow to the Wild, who also announced today that they were firing Head Coach Dean Evason and Assistant Coach Bob Woods. This comes after seven straight losses. While the Wild have not announced who they will be hiring, there is speculation that John Hynes is in the mix.
The next two games are important games against division rivals. On Tuesday, the Wild face the St. Louis Blues at home and then travel to play the Nashville Predators on Thursday. They will have to play both with not only a new head coach but gritty forward Hartman.
Hartman has been deemed a “repeat offender” as he has been suspended previously. This definition comes from the terms set out by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He will forfeit $41,463.42, which is based on his average salary. That money will be paid into the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
The tripping incident occurred in the third period. It did not result in a call on the ice, but it was announced soon after the game ended that he would be having a meeting with the NHL Player Safety.
Hartman is currently in the last year of his $1.7 million AAV contract. He’s already signed a 3-year, $4 million AAV contract that takes effect next season. The money he is forfeiting is based on this season’s $1.7 million salary.
But Trouba gets a fine he would set on fire and not care about. He should be suspended for playing baseball. Great work Mikki