Wideman Decision Expected Wednesday

[Grimbl420]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Wideman himself said he wasnt dazed at all and just buggered his neck and shoulder up when hit. When there is a video of him basically lunging toward the linesman to hit him and not phased skating away and after you say you werent dazed or confised you are starting an uphill battle.

He was clearly not okay after the hit, how can you not see that?

[Teroy]

Anyone who honestly thinks it wasn't deliberate is fooling themselves. This should not be tolerated. He should be gone for the season.

[Walter Reed]

Double post

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

They will still carry 7 defensemen IMO, unless it's a short suspension. They'll just send Granlund down.

They're going to have to send Granlund down (or waive someone else ... MayRay) just to get Ferland back in the lineup.

As long as no one gets injured during the break, there won't be enough roster spots come Wednesday.


So, yeah, they can waive a forward to make room for a 7th d-man, but the comments I read made it seem like they could just call up Nakladal to replace Wideman, which isn't the case.

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I honestly feel like I'm taking crazy pills. The way this is being treated feels like this is the worst thing to happen in hockey in decades.

If Wideman gets 20 games for something that is extremely difficult to prove intent for, then I'll be blown away.

This is Dennis Wideman, not Raffi Torres...

This is the type of thinking that causes an unjust legal system. Who it is and their intent does not matter.

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by CGY12

You've never seen a player get hit hard by an opponent and act aggressively right after?

I'm sorry but I don't believe the I had my head down and couldn't stop so I put my stick up to protect myself excuse (when in fact in the video it looks like the opposite).

I think Wideman was angry about being hit hard and in pain and took it out on the first person that he came into contact with.

He made a mistake that he probably immediately regretted. Thats the way I see it anyway.

That's my thought as well. No one except Wideman knows what was going through his mind during that 10 second period. The NHL can only judge the incident based upon the video not the intent. I think he snapped in a fit of "road rage" so to speak and as you suggested, drilled the first person he encountered. I don't think it was premeditated per say but having watched the clip 4-5 times I can't believe it was accidental either. He might plead some kind of temporary insanity defence. Regardless he has to be held responsible for his dangerous reckless actions on the ice. The league will need to suspend in this case or it would be setting a dangerous precedent that any player moving forward could use as a defence against similar hits of a official or player. IMO he receives 10 games because of no prior history.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

This is the type of thinking that causes an unjust legal system. Who it is and their intent does not matter.

Good thing the NHL isn't the legal system and is governed by a separate set of rules.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Grimbl420

He was clearly not okay after the hit, how can you not see that?

Hey man, Im just repeating what Wideman himself said. I personally have no idea what state he was in.

[Samonadreau]

And actually if its less then 20 games its only the worst suspension since Horcoff 3 days ago.

[Grimbl420]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

This is the type of thinking that causes an unjust legal system. Who it is and their intent does not matter.

lol, this is laughable. Intent, is the difference between Murder and Manslaughter in the legal system, and both have very different punishments.

And punishment is usually longer for repeat offenders as well, and justly so.

not sure what planet you live on.

[JohnnyB]

While he said he was not dazed, Wideman certainly looked like he was at the very least pre-occupied with the pain from the hit. It really looks as though his state of mind resulted in an error of judgement which involved an intentional hitting motion (perhaps defensive in intention) which happened to be directed towards the linesman. A suspension is justified even though I don't believe it was at all premeditated.

It would actually be good for the NHL to at least comment on or possibly fine the Flames for not following concussion protocol with Wideman after that collision and his actions.

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Grimbl420

lol, this is laughable. Intent, is the difference between Murder and Manslaughter in the legal system, and both have very different punishments.

And punishment is usually longer for repeat offenders as well, and justly so.

not sure what planet you live on.

Go rear end someone in your car. As long as you tell the cops it was an accident they'll say you're fine.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

This is the type of thinking that causes an unjust legal system. Who it is and their intent does not matter.

In what legal system does intent and who not matter? Both matter very much. One can literally alter the charges laid, while the other can influence the scentence.

Widemans track record should absolutely play a role in how much they want to give him the benefit of the doubt, and his potential scentence.

For the record, I don't buy his dazed and head down and didn't see him excuse. He looked wounded at first, but he'd had his head up for avenue before he hit the ref. Looked to me like a guy who got stung, was upset about it and had a tantrum when his route to the bench got blocked. He needs some sort of suspension cause he was unable to control his emotions and it resulted in him intentionally contacting an official. Have to be able to control your emotions.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Go rear end someone in your car. As long as you tell the cops it was an accident they'll say you're fine.

No, but if you tell them you did it on purpose you'll be getting a whole lot more than some demerits and a fine. What don't you get about that?

[Travis Munroe]

My heart wants to tell me it was a accident.
I think he was just pissed off, staring at the ice in a bad mood on the way back to the bench and he catches a body out of the corner of his eye at the last second. Goes for the pissed off shove down and then realize it was a ref. You see that sort of shove down all the time with player on player.
It wasn't someone who even had a say in calling a penalty on the hit so pre meditated intent makes no sense and Wideman is not in the same category of players who might intentionally do something stupid.

Confusing on all accounts but I believe he gets 3 games as the NHL stands up for the refs and makes it clear that accidental or not, you need to be in control (similar to a high sticking infraction). If something leaks that he has a history with this ref then it gets upped to 15 games +

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Mike F

I think you've got in completely backwards.

The raw video shows that Wideman skated 80 feet towards the linesman with an unobstructed view, made barely any effort to avoid him prior to contact, and showed no apologetic reaction immediately after contact.

Many people in this thread have given their version of factors that could have caused him to do those things innocently, and I don't necessarily disagree with them, but it doesn't change the fact that it's up to Wideman to convince the league and officials rep that those factors were in fact present.

I highly doubt the NHLPA agrees with you. I'm not totally familiar with next steps if the PA wanted to appeal or whatever but I'd guess an arbitrator or someone like that would very much agree that the NHL would need justification to suspend.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

This is the type of thinking that causes an unjust legal system. Who it is and their intent does not matter.

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Go rear end someone in your car. As long as you tell the cops it was an accident they'll say you're fine.

[Mod edit- not appropriate]

[AcGold]

OK guys just look at the play.

Wideman loses the battle and slowly skates off dejected and not paying attention.

Not expecting the play to come back in his direction he doesn't see the ref or the players.

Taps his stick
Looks up
Sees the players about to collide with him
Goes to move left
Sees the ref
Tries to squeeze in-between the play and the ref

This all happened in less than 2 seconds. It looks like a follow through because he didn't want to get slammed into by the Nashville player

[Grimbl420]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Go rear end someone in your car. As long as you tell the cops it was an accident they'll say you're fine.

There is a difference between sliding on ice and accidentally rear ending someone, and slamming a car into someone with intent. The first one probably wouldn't even warent a ticket, the second will probably get you a court date and jail time.

[EVERLAST]

I've seen Wideman hit so many times and there has been no call on the hits I would call questionable.

Dennis has never had anyone come to his aid nor has his complaining to refs ever helped.

Dude snapped. I really think that. Had it been an opposing player it would be the same outcome.

I hate condemning the guy but this happens . Sports are completely emotional at times.

Sucker punches, face washes, slew footing, slashes behind the play, guys ripping off opposing players jerseys and cutting them up on the floor of the penalty box, 2 handed swings of sticks to heads , coaches getting beer poured on their heads and players jumping into the crowd, , etc etc we've seen it all.

Bad things happen even to Flames players on the ice.