Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
Quite frankly, you have no idea what Wideman "deserves" or does not deserve. He is a human being who is clearly suffering through a professional rough patch, and is facing the inevitable end of a career that he loves. As fellow human beings we should all be capable of empathizing with how that must feel.
Wideman's days as a NHLer are done, and I wish him nothing but prosperity and well being in the future.
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It's certainly not an excuse for being a poor teammate (allegedly), but I can understand where Wideman might be frustrated, and I has negatively effected him.
His contract is up, and he's having a poor year. He's at an age where he probably doesn't get a contract offer next year. He sees that his time is winding down.
Time is winding down, and he isn't able to contribute. He's not going out on his own terms (not that most get to), and the frustration from that.
Steep decline - had there been a Norris Trophy for just the last quarter of the season two years ago, Wideman probably wins that. Two years later he's being healthy scratched multiple games in a row with no evidence that he's going to get back in.
The incident - setting aside the result and consequences, knowing the rest of his career, its very likely that Wideman had no intention of hurting the official. Wideman is likely not going to be remembered for much else in his career other than that one play. I think that would put a burden on someone.
The burden of being the pawn in what ended up being a battle between the NHL and the PA. The whole incident became a battle that was bigger than just what happened with him.
Again, these aren't excuses for him, but I don't know if I could say I wouldn't have checked out already if I were him.