Wideman Decision Expected Wednesday

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

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.

I can't see this as a suspension for the hit, since he gets a hearing for that. They are just taking advantage of the break.

[Hackey]

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.

I think if he said he thought it was a Predator most people would be a lot more understanding. He would probably still be in trouble but it would at least explain some of the questionable actions.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yeah, I can buy that as the natural instinct of a defenceman when you see an unidentified body coming at you.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I can't see this as a suspension for the hit, since he gets a hearing for that. They are just taking advantage of the break.

The hit is the only reason to suspend him.

And yes, he gets a hearing - that is why it is currently an indefinite suspension. It is pending that hearing. I suspect it will be an in-person hearing, and that is why it will wait until after the All-Star break.

To my mind, the only question now is if he gets 10 games (probable) or 20 (smaller chance).

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The hit is the only reason to suspend him.

And yes, he gets a hearing - that is why it is currently an indefinite suspension. It is pending that hearing. I suspect it will be an in-person hearing, and that is why it will wait until after the All-Star break.

To my mind, the only question now is if he gets 10 games (probable) or 20 (smaller chance).

I didn't think you could suspend pre-hearing. I must be wrong about that.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I didn't think you could suspend pre-hearing. I must be wrong about that.

You can. When a referee assesses a match penalty, for instance, the player is automatically suspended pending the league's review.

[TheScorpion]

Completely agree with this decision. Dirty play, he should be gone for 10+ games.

[Hockeyguy15]

This "suspension" is silly. There are no games, I don't even think there are practices over the break?

Basically they are suspending him from nothing and will deal with it after the ASG.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Completely agree with this decision. Dirty play, he should be gone for 10+ games.

What decision, to have a hearing? Nothing has happened yet.

[genetic_phreek]

Intent or not, you have to be accountable for your actions on the ice. I know it's a bit extreme but I look at the Bertuzzi incident, his intent was to hurt Steve Moore but not injure him or end his career, yet he's still accountable for his actions and should be.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The hit is the only reason to suspend him.

And yes, he gets a hearing - that is why it is currently an indefinite suspension. It is pending that hearing. I suspect it will be an in-person hearing, and that is why it will wait until after the All-Star break.

To my mind, the only question now is if he gets 10 games (probable) or 20 (smaller chance).

Or zero games, which seems the most likely for what could only be an accidental collision.

The NHL is well within thief rights to fully review all of the testimony, and has the time to do so, because of the all star break.

[Weitz]

They wouldn't suspend indefinitely without a suspension to follow in this case. I am guessing 10 games.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

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

I am pretty sure that referees are granted some discretion when issuing match penalties though, especially if it was personal a safety issue. It replaced the concept of gross misconducts a few years ago. I am also pretty sure that they can add one on at the end of the game to the official score sheet thereby ensuring a review by the league (albeit making the ejection issue moot).

Maybe they did add one last night? I didn't check. If they though what Wideman did was intentional, they should have.

[Otto29]

He'll get 10 games. That's it. Unfortunately the ###### who knocked him face first into the board before that won't get anything

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Completely agree with this decision. Dirty play, he should be gone for 10+ games.

what decision? and what happened to 25 games

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

Intent or not, you have to be accountable for your actions on the ice. I know it's a bit extreme but I look at the Bertuzzi incident, his intent was to hurt Steve Moore but not injure him or end his career, yet he's still accountable for his actions and should be.

That's completely different. Bertuzzi fully intended to hit Moore, and fully intended to hurt him. He was reckless as to the consequences. Wideman, unless he's lying, didn't intend any contact at all.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

What decision, to have a hearing? Nothing has happened yet.

You think he's suspended indefinitely and has to come in for a meeting so they can give him a warning?

[BigNumbers]

OP seems a bit of a troll....

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Hackey

You think he's suspended indefinitely and has to come in for a meeting so they can give him a warning?

they probably want his side of the story not the social media bs...probably a suspension at this point still not guaranteed to be a long one

[saillias]

Not sure why the new thread announcing the suspension was locked. I thought it's been well established that forcing CPers to navigate mega-threads to find information as events unfold is villainous, and new events are worthy of new threads.