Insider reports NHL answer to Ryan Hartman slewfoot against Leon Draisaitl
The Oilers and Wild game got heated last night with multiple controversial incidents, and while some insider suggested extra discipline for Ryan Hartman's slewfoot on Leon Draisaitl, no penalty will come.
Connor McDavid also was also involved with a questionable hit against Marcus Johansson, but the Oilers superstar will not be fined.
Does Ryan Hartman deserve a fine for Slewfoot on Leon Draisaitl?
The NHL has already indicated that McDavid will see no discipline for his play, and now Minnesota Wild reporter Michael Russo has confirmed no fine or suspension will come for Ryan Hartman either.
Hartman clearly made a kicking motion towards Draisaitl's legs that sent the Oilers star down to the ice, then Hartman continued to jab at him with his stick.
The referee is literally in the frame of the video watching over the play, but somehow called no penalty for the slewfoot. Kicking in hockey is obviously extremely dangerous, and even lightly, skates should never leave the ice.
Did NHL make the right decision by not pursuing any extra discipline in Oilers vs Wild game?
NHL Player Safety continued their only pattern of inconsistency with the decisions from last night.
In the Oilers game before facing the Wild, Connor McDavid took a slewfoot from Adrian Kempe that went uncalled, and later the Kings forward was rightfully fined.
Hartman's slewfoot and kick here was maybe less serious than Kempe's, but Hartman is a player with a lengthy history of such dirty plays.
Wild defenceman Jacob Middleton even mentioned post game that if Hartman had made McDavid's hit, he'd be called for his reputation.
McDavid's hit was an avoidable contact to the head that resulted in an injury, and should've been called a penalty and fined. Hartman's kick and slewfoot on Draisaitl should've at least been a penalty, and with the precedent of Kempe incident, could've been a fine.
Once again, the NHL Department of Player Safety has made a few strange decisions that only leave fans with more questions than answers.
