This is my first post on CP so I think I'd better introduce myself as a huge Flames fan because I sense a lot of people might disagree with what I am about to post and accuse me of being a troll.
I've watched the now infamous video of the incident many times as I am sure everyone has. What I see is after Wideman gets up from the hit and straightens up, he takes 4, count them 4 purposeful strides towards the bench in a direct line. That is to say, he doesn't weave back and forth but skates directly to the door of the bench knowing he needs to change. Also, I totally disagree with anyone that says that he took a little "stutter step" in an effort to avoid the linesman. I see that "stutter step" as him planting his outside leg in an effort to get a better hit in to the unsuspecting official, and hit him he does, ON PURPOSE !
I also have to say I agree 100% with Bettmans findings released today. There was no way that Gary could or should have allowed Wideman to play the "concussion card" as it would have set a dangerous precedent going forward for future disciplinary hearings.
The only thing I don't like about the suspension is the fact that with Wideman in the lineup the Flames are more likely to lose more games, so in that respect I wish he would return sooner as I don't see the Flames making it to the post season and the lower we drop in the standings the higher we pick in the 2016 entry draft.
I'm hoping I have seen Wideman's last game as a Flame but don't know if he will be very easily traded now given that any team that acquires him will only have around twenty games remaining in their regular season prior to playoffs.
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