Wideman Decision Expected Wednesday

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Your contention expressed here is also a case of moving the goalposts. You said that you felt the referees could go watch a video and then retroactively asses a penalty. I told you that is false. Changing your argument to a more general "if they felt he abused an official then they would throw him out" is very much true, but very much not your original argument.

Who is changing the goal posts here?

Here is what I said:

At any rate, I am sure they can eject players based on video and they had access to the same reel that everyone else did, yet Wideman was not ejected.

Here is what you replied with:

No, they can't. Much like with missed goals, once the next play started, they can't go back

I was talking about ejecting a player for assaulting an official. They might not be able to go back and assess a penalty, but for assault and ejection, I would bet that they can.

[dino7c]

Them deciding today tells me its either nothing or a short suspension

[FeyWest]

Whether I agree/disagree, I do think Wideman will get a suspension, a short one most likely although the ref was hospitalized so you never know.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Them deciding today tells me its either nothing or a short suspension

I'm going with a fine.

It was an accident and there was no intent, but they will want to make the point that players are still responsible for avoiding contact with officials.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I'm going with a fine.

It was an accident and there was no intent, but they will want to make the point that players are still responsible for avoiding contact with officials.

Under what rule can they fine him for an accident?

[GreenLantern2814]

Watching the video, it sure looks intentional. However, the hit immediately prior, the rather aimless way Wideman is skating and the suddenness of his reaction does lead me to believe he's not all there at that particular moment in time.

Reasonable doubt. Still, if he gets a game or two I won't be upset

[Hackey]

I personally think he got rocked hard and just wanted off the ice as fast as possible and the linesman just happened to be in his way and he reacted in a way he probably wouldn't have if he didn't get rocked. I don't think it was because he was confused or was pissed at the ref but more just wanting to get to the bench as quick as possible.

[skudr248]

This doesn't look good, and from the gif looks intentional.

On the other hand, from someone who has suffered some serious concussions in sports over the years, when your bells are rung your judgement gets cloudy and you do things you wouldn't normally do. I've seen it first hand people getting knocked down hard and "snap" and do something stupid whether be trip a person, punch etc.

Theres a period of "dizziness" that you don't really know what you're doing. My stance on this, but who knows, I ain't a doctor.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by skudr248

This doesn't look good, and from the gif looks intentional.

On the other hand, from someone who has suffered some serious concussions in sports over the years, when your bells are rung your judgement gets cloudy and you do things you wouldn't normally do. I've seen it first hand people getting knocked down hard and "snap" and do something stupid whether be trip a person, punch etc.

Theres a period of "dizziness" that you don't really know what you're doing. My stance on this, but who knows, I ain't a doctor.

He's not claiming clouded judgment, like Marty McSorely did after spearing Bullard. He's claiming that he didn't notice the guy until the last split second and he couldn't avoid him at that point. Which, IMO, is pretty consistent with the video. You can see him try to take a sidestep but too late.

[CMPunk]

So if we expect an answer today, and Wideman hasn't flown to New York, doesn't that mean the suspension will be nothing or under 5 games? I thought all major suspensions required an in person hearing?

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Can he even get a short suspension?

If the nhl thinks it was an accident, I don't know what rule they would use to suspend him. If they don't, it has to be 10 games or 20, no?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Who is changing the goal posts here?

Here is what I said:


Here is what you replied with: I was talking about ejecting a player for assaulting an official. They might not be able to go back and assess a penalty, but for assault and ejection, I would bet that they can.

Brother, and now you are arguing semantics. A game misconduct IS a penalty, dude.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I'm going with a fine.

It was an accident and there was no intent, but they will want to make the point that players are still responsible for avoiding contact with officials.

How is that the player's responsibility? If it's away from the play like this sure but if the ref is between you and a loose puck he gets out of the way or you go through him.

[dino7c]

its actually the officials job to avoid the players, not saying its his "fault" but he is right in front of the Flames bench at the time

It wasn't until the out of context gif got to social media this whole thing blew up

[dino7c]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W3hCWDHIzE

this in a super slow-mo close up gif would look pretty bad too...jumps into official with his hands up

[Otto-matic]

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 56s56 seconds ago
Indefinite suspension for Wideman pending post All Star hearing

[TheScorpion]

New thread (death to megathreads):

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=152286

[nfotiu]

I don't see how it could be a short suspension or fine. If it was actually intentional, wouldn't that be a gone for the year or life kind of thing? His action wasn't really a defensive reflex action like I've ever seen. He braced himself and followed through. He had his head down and was woozy, I wonder if he thought it was a predator. And if he did, I have no idea how you'd handle that.

[Greybeard]

I don't see it as a lot different than the Weber hit in dino7c clip above. Ref moving back hands up as he tries to avoid him rocks the ref good. Hard to say what the league does though.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

I don't see how it could be a short suspension or fine. If it was actually intentional, wouldn't that be a gone for the year or life kind of thing? His action wasn't really a defensive reflex action like I've ever seen. He braced himself and followed through. He had his head down and was woozy, I wonder if he thought it was a predator. And if he did, I have no idea how you'd handle that.

No. The NHL rule book calls for an automatic suspension of 10 games for deliberate contact, or 20 games for deliberate contact with intent to injure. The league can go higher than those minimums, but this clearly was not flagrant enough to warrant that.

If the league has suspended, it is probably a safe bet that he's looking at at least 10.