NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has upheld the suspension of Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman for slamming an opponent's head to the ice.

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 hearing Hartman's in-person appeal.

The Minnesota Wild's Ryan Hartman had been suspended 10 games for roughing, but Gary Bettman reduced the length after hearing an appeal.

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.

When the injury bug bites, sometimes it can really sink its teeth in - and it's currently gnawing away at the Minnesota Wild. On the heels of Bill Guerin saying star Kirill Kaprizov will be out longer than initially expected,

Minnesota Wild Ryan Hartman had his suspension reduced from 10 games to eight by Commissioner Gary Bettman on Monday, though Bettman upheld his suspension. Hartman was suspended after roughing the Ottawa Senators' Tim Stutzle during a Feb.