Pretty sure Bettman and the NHL took awhile because this will be a precident setting case. Lowering the suspension or admitting Wideman "made poor decisions after he was concussed" as a valid excuse would open up every decision past, present, future. Hell Kadri was already busting it out for his throat slash excuse. I can see Bettmans using any and all tools to discredit the concussion angle.
The NHLPA on the other hand has a vested interest in proving that concussions are hugely problematic, and opens the door for more litigation against the league for lost revenue from suspensions, injured players, etc. (and 500k lost revenue for a player in this instance).
this is all taking place during a concussion lawsuit.
Besides the optics and PR disaster of this, the precident of concussion symptoms and their effect on a players decisions/actions is the real issue here.
Just look at other player vs. linesmen issues where a player steam rolls them (Y. Weber for example) Nothing. Not a peep, not a game suspension.
Optics made this an issue, but now it's not about Wideman, it's all part of a bigger ongoing responsibility issue surrounding concussions.
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