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Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing
I can say I do not think it was intentional, because I am not Dennis Wideman, and I am not inside his head. I can only say how I interpret what I saw.
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Right. Which is why the decision will come down predominantly on the video evidence, which quite clearly shows Wideman's stick in his hands making contact with Henderson's head, and in a situation that appears quite easily avoidable. Given those circumstances, I would think the language of Rule 40.3 reasonably applies here.
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I do not think he deliberately struck Henderson with an intent to injure (Rule 40.2) nor do I think he deliberately applied physical force without an intent to injure (Rule 40.3). I think he tried to get inside, was unaware that Henderson would be skating so fast towards him, and upon what turned into an inevitable collision, extended his arms in a manner of "better you than me".
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What you just described was a deliberate application of physical force. What makes this instance so unusual is that there is nothing from the video to suggest that it was simply an unavoidable collision. Wideman definitely takes action to contribute to the injury of the official, and without the ability to determine intent, or to clearly rule it out, the video on its own looks pretty damning.
I heard three former NHL players weigh in on this case on the radio yesterday, and they were emphatic and unanimous about it. We can't know what Wideman was thinking at the time, but his actions deserve a lengthy suspension.