[News] Arbitrator reduces Wideman suspension to 10 games from 20

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

But the lawyers win. The lawyers always win.

You say that like its a bad thing.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by RHSkinny

I hope Henderson sues Wideman into the stone age. Wideman was classless throughout this incident IMO. Classless because of the hit itself, classless because of the text he wrote......what a slimeball. I'm embarrassed that he's a member of the Calgary Flames.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by OzSome

What a joke!! The guy sat for 19 games already before the final decision was made. I thought he only deserved 10 games. NHL really screwed up on this suspension. I bet ref will give him a penalty everytime he hit someone.

The time it took is what angers me. The league has to look at this and figure out how to streamline the appeal process so players like Wideman and the team don't lose out when the judgement is reduced. Imagine if the Flames were in a heated battle for a playoff spot.

[Gaudfather]

Agreed - they could start by cutting out the appeal to Bettman part - it was a forgone conclusion he wouldn't change anything and could have shortened the whole process by nearly two weeks.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Might as well add that in my opinion there was zero chance any team was going to trade for Wideman at the deadline this year. I dont see anybody trading for him this summer either.

Teams inquired about Wideman's availability at the trade deadline as per interview with Burke in the 1st intermission of the ARI game. So yeah, obviously we can move him in the offseason. Not sure why anybody would be surprised though, defensemen who can play top 4 in the NHL always have value. We might think he's massively overpaid but that's actually the going rate for defensemen of his age and experience with his career history.

[flamesfan1297]

Originally Posted by RHSkinny

I am not going to get into mudslinging with fellow forum members that do not share my point of view. While its true that I just recently joined this forum and have only posted in regards to the Wideman incident, I have only done so because I staunchly believe that what Wideman did was on purpose and therefore reprehensible. I don't believe the concussion arguement for one second. Again, I understand that many on this forum don't share my view but I won't resort to name calling if you have a dissenting opinion.

Lol seriously? You called Wideman a Slimeball, and yet you won't resort to name calling?

[sureLoss]

NHLOA response

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

NHLOA response

[Geeoff]

Remember that time Dennis Wideman said it was the last time he'd talk about this incident? Somehow, I highly doubt that. I feel metaphorically speaking, we're at this moment:

[Fire of the Phoenix]

How do they know Henderson will be out for the rest of the year? What if he recovers? Or is this just precautionary? Or posturing?

[saillias]

The refs dropped a "think of the children" in there.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

That might be one of the dumbest statements I've ever read. People often give the players unions from various leagues a hard time for being bush but that piece of crap right there from the officials union takes the cake.

[calgaryblood]

Sounds like it was written by a teenager. What a joke of a statement and I also disagree about the suspension being reduced to 10 games.

[PepsiFree]

I'm shocked the NHLOA allowed that to be sent out.

Their opinion is irrelevant, the wording is incredibly unprofessional, they (poorly) try to make it a moral issue, and finish it off with a veiled threat.

Garbage.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

NHLOA response

Sent from my Iphone.......

An official communique.... With an Iphone signature...

...

[vennegoor of hesselink]

Article on Gregory Campbell`s friendship with Wideman, and thoughts about being mentioned in the ruling.

http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/...an-ruling.html

[Burner]

Its ironic to read the officials associations position given that the arbitrator said that one of the deciding bits of information came from the head of officiating saying that it was obvious there was no intent to injure

[FlamesAddiction]

Why just stop at children and athletes around the world? If there are interdimensional or time travellers, it could also affect parallel universes or history as well.

[Tron_fdc]

I didn't realize they seized his phone. Are the phones supplied and paid for by the team?

I would give a pretty strong GFY if someone wanted my personal property. Employer or not, you can ask to see it but demanding or seizing it? Not a chance.

[AhiChicken]

Why wouldn't the players use a messaging app with a self-destruct setting? There are quite a few around.