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.

Commissioner Gary Bettman ruled today that Ryan Hartman's ten-game suspension for slamming Tim Stützle’s face into the ice was too harsh.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reduced Minnesota Wild center Ryan Hartman’s 10-game suspension to eight games.