Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
I've mentioned a bunch of times, there's no offence like careless use of a stick for this situation. The stick rule is spelled out pretty clearly. The rules about physical force on an official require it to be deliberate.
I suppose they could say it was deliberate but under the influence of the hit and give him leniency but that to me is a huge can of worms.
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I feel the NHL is going to side with the court of public opinion on this one. It doesn't look good for Wideman. I completely believe him that it was an accident but fans and media were taking to media looking for a huge suspension. Why? Because it is hard to make a case that it was an accident. The optics aren't in Wideman's favour on this incident. He had plenty of time to see the linesman and get out of the way.
That is why I think they'll say that there may have been factors leading to Wideman not noticing the lineseman but he still has to be in control of his actions. Even if he didn't see him and he bumped into him, there was no effort to protect the lineseman, and then he just skated off.
Unless Wideman, Treliving and Burke can convince Colin Campbell that Wideman was dazed and unaware of his surroundings and he didn't even know he hit somebody, then Wideman will get a big suspension. The problem with going this route is that it could open up the Flames staff to a huge storm of negative publicity as to why Wideman was allowed back on the ice and not taken to a dark room to ensure he wasn't concussed. Besides, it is very hard argument to make.