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

[dash_pinched]

nm, wrong thread.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Blows my mind that a player cannot play during an appeal such as this. You would think that the appeal process would have to conclude before anyone knew exactly what the punishment is. What if the arbitrator decides 10 games? Wonder if this will change in the next CBA, it should.

I think the speed of the process will be addressed, but in most cases, I would not support letting players play through the appeal process. That is how MLB does it, and players abuse the crap out of it. You would have guys appealing suspensions if their next game(s) were important to the team, only to change their mind and drop it for the following game against Edmonton or Buffalo.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Blows my mind that a player cannot play during an appeal such as this. You would think that the appeal process would have to conclude before anyone knew exactly what the punishment is. What if the arbitrator decides 10 games? Wonder if this will change in the next CBA, it should.

My thoughts on what the full process should be:

• Suspension is announced
• Player chooses to appeal
• Player is suspended indefinitely
• All appeals are completed, finalized number of games announced
• Games already missed are deducted from finalized number, and pay for those games paid out to Players' Emergency Assistance Fund
• If extra games have been missed, pay for those games is retained by the player, and teams are granted cap relief equal to the same amount

Example 1

• Player is suspended for 3 games
• NHLPA files Notice of Appeal
• Player is now suspended indefinitely
• Player misses 2 games before appeal is finalized
• Appealed suspension is reduced to 2 games
• Pay from 2 games is paid out to Player Emergency Fund
• Player is eligible to return to active status

Example 2

• Player is suspended for 3 games
• NHLPA files notice of appeal
• Player is now suspended indefinitely
• Player misses 4 games before appeal is finalized
• Appealed suspension is reduced to 2 games
• Pay from 2 games is paid out to Player Emergency Fund
• Pay from 2 games is retained by player
• Team is granted cap relief equal to pay retained by player
• Player is eligible to return to active status

Example 3

• Player is suspended for 5 games
• NHLPA files Notice of Appeal
• Player is now suspended indefinitely
• Player misses 3 games before appeal is finalized
• Appealed suspension is unchanged at 5 games
• Player remains suspended for 2 more games
• Pay from 5 games is paid out to Player Emergency Fund
• Player is eligible to return to active status

[Aegypticus]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Raise your hand for a team going into a playoff run who wants a player who not only attacked a ref, but sent non-remorseful tweets after the fact?

I appreciate everyone's right to form their own opinion on the events, but let's try to keep the facts straight. If "tweets" was a typo, ignore me.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think the speed of the process will be addressed, but in most cases, I would not support letting players play through the appeal process. That is how MLB does it, and players abuse the crap out of it. You would have guys appealing suspensions if their next game(s) were important to the team, only to change their mind and drop it for the following game against Edmonton or Buffalo.

I was always pissed at how suspended guys would play in the CFL while they were appealing, especially given how few games there are).

Most appeals in the NHL don't take this long.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think the speed of the process will be addressed, but in most cases, I would not support letting players play through the appeal process. That is how MLB does it, and players abuse the crap out of it. You would have guys appealing suspensions if their next game(s) were important to the team, only to change their mind and drop it for the following game against Edmonton or Buffalo.

I would let them play after so many games have been missed due to the appeal process. For Wideman, if his appeal is still being processes after 10 games in a 20 game suspension, he should be allowed to play. Even a ratio like only 50% of the games suspended can be played during an appeal

[Rick M.]

A lot depends on what is required from an arbitrator. If it is just a decision, it might not take too long after the hearing is held; if a written rationale is also required, Wideman might have missed 20 games by the time we have a resolution. The appeal, in that case, might only be about whether he gets back some forfeited salary.

[northcrunk]

Is there even a firm date for the appeal?

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

My thoughts on what the full process should be:

While those are fair processes with regards to pay none of those examples address what I think is the biggest issue. The impact on the team.

Say you have a guy and he's suspended say 10 games he's suspended while the appeal is ongoing and through the first 5 games his team goes 1-3-1, then the appeal is successful and the neutral arbitrator says he shouldn't have been suspended at all and the team misses out on the playoffs by 1 point.

Guys should get to play while the appeal is ongoing. It's asinine that the way the system works that the above situation could happen. It's not fair to the players, the fans, and it's not fair to the franchises.

[Coach]

It seems to me that most of these issues could be solved by not taking 100 years to make a decision on something that should only take a few hours, maybe a day, at most.

[mrkajz44]

Even worse than the long decisions is the huge lag time between appeal steps. Bettman gave his decision last Wednesday I think. So it takes over a week to set up the next hearing, even though pretty much everyone knew it was coming? Boggles the mind.

[sureLoss]

2 days

NHLPA @NHLPA
The NHLPA’s appeal to the Neutral Discipline Arbitrator regarding the suspension of Dennis Wideman will be heard on Thursday & Friday in NYC

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

2 days

NHLPA @NHLPA
The NHLPA’s appeal to the Neutral Discipline Arbitrator regarding the suspension of Dennis Wideman will be heard on Thursday & Friday in NYC

Hopefully the verdict is rendered before the deadline. Not sure it will matter but it might.

[IntenseFan]

Realistically, given: a) the huge drop off in his game this season; and b) the stigma from this Henderson incident, I'm not sure he'd garner even a 7th rounder as an offer. If he did I'd seriously consider taking it though.

[Mr.Coffee]

What?

A 7th rounder? Good lord. The hate Wideman gets on this site is absolutely ridiculous.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

What?

A 7th rounder? Good lord. The hate Wideman gets on this site is absolutely ridiculous.

cap hit

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by dino7c

cap hit

Wideman may not be worth $5MM per season, but he is CERTAINLY not worth a 7th round draft pick. Let's just pump the brakes a bit here.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by dino7c

cap hit

Wizniewski was traded with a similar cap hit and he isn't amazing either.

If we take a bad contract back he's certainly tradeable. Teams love defensive depth and despite the bad year some GM would take a chance on him if they can fit him in.

[MarkGio]

If all goes well Wideman will be available to play Saturday against Ottawa and then be healthy for Monday's trade deadline

[Cube Inmate]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

If all goes well Wideman will be available to play Saturday against Ottawa and then be healthy for Monday's trade deadline

Gary took close to a week to craft his decision. Now, he probably took his time because (a) it makes things suck more for Wideman/Flames, and (b) he wanted to "bulletproof" his case because he knew it would be taken to an arbitrator. But regardless of any of Gary's extra delays, it still takes time to consider a decision.

Do we expect an arbitrator to make a decision in 24 hours? Even 48 hours? I have to assume that the arbitrator is expected to go into this "blind" -- not reviewing the evidence beforehand, and relying only on that which is presented at the hearings. I have a very hard time believing that he'll be willing to rule without taking at least a couple of days to digest all the evidence presented.

Prediction: ruling comes down late on Monday afternoon. At that point, it doesn't matter what the result is.