Quote:
Originally Posted by dino7c
come on now...the NOA was/is pissed probably rightly so and wanted Wideman to get the longest suspension possible. Henderson working the next game would certainly work against them.
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Why would it work against them?
Wideman was suspended for 20 games on February 3, 2016. He was suspended under the frame work of Rule 40.2.
Quote:
40. 2 Automatic Suspension — Category I — Any player who deliberately strikes an
official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner
against an official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an
official shall be automatically suspended for not less than twenty (20) games. (For
the purpose of the rule, "intent to injure" shall mean any physical force which a
player knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury. )
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Seeing as the initial 20 game suspension came down to whether Wideman accidentally or deliberately cross-checked Henderson and the league determined it was deliberate, they gave Wideman the minimum amount of games possible.
Now Bettman could have reduced the suspension, but not even the NHLPA was asking for a reduction in game. They wanted the suspension lifted completely.
By February 3, 2016, it became apparent that Henderson's injury, or lack thereof, would not influence the suspension.
Even in the next appeal, the third-party arbiter will make a determination on whether Wideman's actions were deliberate or if he was in a diminished mental and/or physical state making his actions unintentional. It will not be based on whether Henderson is on the scoresheets or not.
So again, the weird conspiracy theory you are proposing doesn't make sense.