[News] Bettman upholds 20 game Wideman suspension. NHLPA files appeal to neutral arbitrator

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Do I have severe reading comprehension issues or do other people? The text was taken from Wideman's phone and/or records, right? So in what universe does that "fracture" a dressing room?

To be fair I was probably concussed earlier today and may be missing something.

Initially when we heard the text the thinking was it had been leaked by a team mate - but then Friedman clarified it the text was obtained via a NHL subpoena - so you are correct there is no " dressing room issue" here.

[Flash Walken]

Just more egg on the collective Flames Franchise because of this.

PR disaster.

[genetic_phreek]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I think it's really dumb that players can't play while the appeal process is ongoing.

I mean... what if an independent arbitrator finds in favor of the player and there should have been no suspension? Sure, he get's paid but it's not like you can nullify the results and replay the games where (in theory) that player might have been the difference between winning and losing.

Murders don't get to be free when they are sentenced and are appealing.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

Murders don't get to be free when they are sentenced and are appealing.

Your really going to compare this to murder? murder? Am I right? murder?

[rayne008]

wow, I'd be screwed if my employer subpoenaed my phone records.

[Jaydee]

why does burke bother buying ties?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

Your really going to compare this to murder? murder? Am I right? murder?

He's not even right in his comparison either. In some cases, a murderer very much could be out on bail pending an appeal. Though obviously not in extreme cases. And if we are going to carry this metaphor forward, deliberate injury of an official is an infraction with the most severe mandatory penalty defined in the rule book. So Wideman's crimes would be the type where bail would not be granted.


As far as playing pending appeal goes, that is problematic too. We often see in baseball (especially with pitchers), that a suspended player will appeal just long enough to make their next start, or to complete an immediately critical game for the team, then drop the appeal and serve their sentence. It is blatantly gaming the system. And it would be worse in the NHL, especially in key playoff races.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Before Friedman said the texts were obtained via subpeona, people were assuming the teammate gave the text voluntary to the league.

Many, myself included, didn't think the NHL had the right to his phone records for an on-ice discipline suspension.

Hmm, so, do we now have an answer for our recent inability to stay out of the box. If the NHL subpeona that text (or however you spell it), no doubt the officials know about it,

[Galakanokis]

There could be a whole string of texts saying how sorry he was and Bettman cherry picked this one. It fits Bettman's narrative so he used it.

[northcrunk]

It's pretty bush league to release a text message in a ruling. Pathetic.

[thymebalm]

Is there really no other angle at all of the hit? Maybe one where we can see Wideman's face?

I hope they go to a third party arbitrator on this one.

[Flash Walken]

The NHL clearly does not buy the "i was concussed" excuse.

[Fan in Exile]

You know I will say one thing. Sure the text was dumb but I doubt that Wideman knew his phone records could be subpoenaed either. It's incredibly invasive for this sort of process, for any judicial or administrative process really. Normally you would have to establish relevance and probative value of the records in order to compel records like that. Or I wonder if Wideman was asked and said he was fine with it not realizing what he had sent and his lawyers then agreed. I would never agree to disclosing phone records unless the other side had some evidentiary basis to establish they were relevant.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Is there really no other angle at all of the hit? Maybe one where we can see Wideman's face?

I hope they go to a third party arbitrator on this one.

I hope you're joking.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

Murders don't get to be free when they are sentenced and are appealing.

... ok.

A: Not even remotely the same thing,
B: I know for a fact that MLB does it this way,
C: Criminals can (and sometimes are) granted bail while awaiting appeal.

[heep223]

This whole thing is just weird

[DionTheDman]

Curious how they justified a subpoena. I would have thought they would need a basis for the order, rather than just a fishing expedition. There must have been some sort of evidence that came out in order to support it.

[Yamer]

I'm still in that minority that believes he intended to do it, and 20 games is warranted.

I hope it isn't reduced at arbitration.

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Sorry, but how does it fit his narrative?

His narrative was that he was concussed and confused as a result. It was the concussion's "fault" that he couldn't avoid the linesman. But in his text he is blaming the refs and media. Come on

His narrative is he was concussed and confused; he didn't see the linesman until the last minute and then it was too late. His hands went up as a reaction to something about to run into him.

His text echos this: Since it was just an accident, nothing should have come from it. From his point of view this is just a (social) media witch hunt based on one camera angle that plays for 5 seconds.

[OldSam]

The uglier the NHL and NHLPA make this, the more chance this becomes an absolute sh.. show for the Flames for the rest of the season. It is open season on the Flames players.