Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [News] Bettman upholds 20 game Wideman suspension. NHLPA files appeal to neutral arbitrator

Oling_Roachinen · 02-28-2016, 12:40 AM

I think people complaining about the time it's taken to go through the process don't quite understand the arguments being made by the NHLPA. This shouldn't be a quick decision, it would be catastrophic to rule it one way or the other so easily.

If Wideman simply said "Eh, it was an accident, my bad." We probably have a decision made by now (maybe not one that Wideman would like, but still).

The NHLPA hired concussion experts with the goal of arguing that Wideman was not liable because he was concussed. They hired experts who wrote reports saying that concussion affects impulse controls, behaviour, aggressiveness and combativeness. It's no longer just a "Whoops, I didn't see him until last second" argument. Although not ruling it out as simply an accident, the experts are essentially saying that if it wasn't an accident, Wideman still didn't do it intentionally because he was concussed. That's what the NHLPA is arguing when they released the statement saying they were going to the neutral third party.

Remember when Chris Simon was drilled into the boards and came back at Hollweg with a vicious two-handed slash to the head? All it takes is Chris Simon to say he doesn't remember the incident and he's ruled concussed, no suspension. That's the argument that the NHLPA is saying and that's the precedent that the NHL needs to prevent. Every single retaliated hit "oh my bad, I was feeling woozy." And since it's a concussion, doesn't even need to be a hit that shift, heck that period. Go back a couple minutes, say that's the hit that affected your brain and you're still in the clear. We don't have the expertise yet to diagnosis concussions 100%, as long as the player says the right thing they'll get the diagnosis. Look at this incident itself. Wideman continued to play after the hit, not missing a shift. He was coherent to the media. He said he wasn't woozy. He was hiking and golfing 48 hours later. All he had to do was tell the doctors that he couldn't remember the incident clearly and they said he was concussed - 4 days later.

02-28-2016, 12:40 AM	#519
Oling_Roachinen Franchise Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Exp:	I think people complaining about the time it's taken to go through the process don't quite understand the arguments being made by the NHLPA. This shouldn't be a quick decision, it would be catastrophic to rule it one way or the other so easily. If Wideman simply said "Eh, it was an accident, my bad." We probably have a decision made by now (maybe not one that Wideman would like, but still). The NHLPA hired concussion experts with the goal of arguing that Wideman was not liable because he was concussed. They hired experts who wrote reports saying that concussion affects impulse controls, behaviour, aggressiveness and combativeness. It's no longer just a "Whoops, I didn't see him until last second" argument. Although not ruling it out as simply an accident, the experts are essentially saying that if it wasn't an accident, Wideman still didn't do it intentionally because he was concussed. That's what the NHLPA is arguing when they released the statement saying they were going to the neutral third party. Remember when Chris Simon was drilled into the boards and came back at Hollweg with a vicious two-handed slash to the head? All it takes is Chris Simon to say he doesn't remember the incident and he's ruled concussed, no suspension. That's the argument that the NHLPA is saying and that's the precedent that the NHL needs to prevent. Every single retaliated hit "oh my bad, I was feeling woozy." And since it's a concussion, doesn't even need to be a hit that shift, heck that period. Go back a couple minutes, say that's the hit that affected your brain and you're still in the clear. We don't have the expertise yet to diagnosis concussions 100%, as long as the player says the right thing they'll get the diagnosis. Look at this incident itself. Wideman continued to play after the hit, not missing a shift. He was coherent to the media. He said he wasn't woozy. He was hiking and golfing 48 hours later. All he had to do was tell the doctors that he couldn't remember the incident clearly and they said he was concussed - 4 days later. Last edited by Oling_Roachinen; 02-28-2016 at 12:42 AM.