Quote:
Originally Posted by CGY12
You've never seen a player get hit hard by an opponent and act aggressively right after? 
I'm sorry but I don't believe the I had my head down and couldn't stop so I put my stick up to protect myself excuse (when in fact in the video it looks like the opposite).
I think Wideman was angry about being hit hard and in pain and took it out on the first person that he came into contact with.
He made a mistake that he probably immediately regretted. Thats the way I see it anyway. |
That's my thought as well. No one except Wideman knows what was going through his mind during that 10 second period. The NHL can only judge the incident based upon the video not the intent. I think he snapped in a fit of "road rage" so to speak and as you suggested, drilled the first person he encountered. I don't think it was premeditated per say but having watched the clip 4-5 times I can't believe it was accidental either. He might plead some kind of temporary insanity defence. Regardless he has to be held responsible for his dangerous reckless actions on the ice. The league will need to suspend in this case or it would be setting a dangerous precedent that any player moving forward could use as a defence against similar hits of a official or player. IMO he receives 10 games because of no prior history.