Quote:
Originally Posted by ZedMan
Most likely "suspended indefinitely" has more to do with the ASG than the severity of the penalty.
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Not really. Why suspend him at all then? Or why not give a number of games after the break? I will be the bad guy here and say it, I watched Wideman have the sense to tap his stick for a line change, I have watched the hit from multiple angles, Wideman's reaction on the bench right after the hit, Wideman's interview after the game, and imo only he is lying when he states he didn't mean to do it. I think this is a guy who took a cheap shot that semi-injured him and on his way back to the bench in an improper frame of mind due to anger when he collides with the linesman he makes a very stupid decision. Actually, I am not even sure he intended to do what he did in a premeditated manner, it was just one of those brief loss of control moments many people can have after an event that stresses and angers you. In my line of work I get lied to...a lot. Could I be wrong, absolutely, certainly not perfect but this is what I believe happened. Wideman takes that hit into the boards and receives a stinger in his neck and shoulder, there is no call on the play. As stated by Wideman himself later on he was not concussed or whoozy, I think he was mildly hurt and very very pissed. As he makes his way to the bench for a line change he smacks his stick on the ice to signal he is coming for a change. I do believe when the linesman and him start closing distance between each other he does indeed make a half assed attempt to get out of the way but his mind is still on the play and the hit and he is still pissed off. When the linesman and him make contact he pushes the ref away with his stick up, driving the official down from behind.
Again, I do not think he did it with any premeditated intent, he was never going to go after a linesman, that would be insane and Wideman is not that type of character. However people do things in anger in a spur of the moment situation they would never do sometimes and I believe this to be the case. My observation once Wideman gets to the bench and sits down is one of someone who cannot believe they just did what they did. His first reaction to me is first shock followed by realization and understanding, followed by an intense thought process of how he is going to explain his actions on the ice. I also took into consideration the fact he went directly to the bench rather than checking on the well being of the linesman. Most players on an incidental contact situation like that unless they were not in control of their faculties or majorly injured would do just that. I think the former applies here, I think after Wideman gives him the shove he is in shock going to the bench. We then fastforward to his interview in the locker room. When I interview people I can generally get a good sense of when someone is lying or trying to hide something by their head movements, the things they say, eye movement, and other factors. When I watched Wideman's explanation I did not believe him. He seemed very nervous to me, he was repeating things, he almost came across as scared to me. Again, these are all my opinions and don't count for a bag of beans. I am not saying Wideman is a bad guy and I don't think he had any intent to hurt anyone, I think it was one of those automatic spur of the moment things.