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

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, this is not about Wideman anymore. He's just the proxy for a larger fight. And given the potential repercussions, it isn't surprising that everyone is treating this exactly like a court case.

[StrykerSteve]

From Millions:

Find it somewhat interesting Dennis Wideman travelling with #Flames.. Appeal ruling goes on and on and on.

[sureLoss]

LOL they haven't even finished their cases:

John Shannon @JSportsnet
On Wideman:Given arbitrator’s schedule,sides agreed to submit written briefs,rather than oral closing arguments. Briefs are due Friday.

[MrMastodonFarm]

When does Charlie Kelly, Bird Lawyer, present his case?

[SofaProfessor]

So this appeal is basically just about reducing lost salary and setting future precedent at this point. If written briefs are due by Friday then you know the NHL will submit at the last possible hour. How long for a decision after that? Another week? Wideman will pretty much be done his suspension by then and any reduction in suspension length will just be about money at that point.

[Krule]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

LOL they haven't even finished their cases:

John Shannon @JSportsnet
On Wideman:Given arbitrator’s schedule,sides agreed to submit written briefs,rather than oral closing arguments. Briefs are due Friday.

What a **** show this has turned out to be.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

When does Charlie Kelly, Bird Lawyer, present his case?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Article about Wideman decision dragging on and implications ... much bigger than lost salary

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blo...it-against-NHL

If an arbitrator is persuaded that Dennis Wideman’s cognitive function was impaired by a blow to the head, it would seem to strengthen the argument that there is a clear link between the playing of hockey and brain trauma. Lyle Aspinall/Postmedia Network

....

In Toronto on Wednesday for the World Cup of Hockey announcement, NHLPA executive director Don Fehr was asked about the slow turn of the wheels of justice. His answer, paraphrased: It is what it is.

He’s quite right. As soon as the case moved out of the realm of the NHL’s internal system, it was bound to take more time. And this is the process that was collectively bargained. As much as Wideman feels wronged here, especially when the league does not dispute that he was concussed by an elbow to the head in the moments before he crashed into Henderson, legal hearings aren’t easily fast-tracked.

But his case will be closely watched by the plaintiffs, and their lawyers, in the lawsuit filed in a Minnesota court that charges the NHL with not doing enough to prevent brain injury to its players. As it happens, that lawsuit, which now includes close to 120 retired players, is also plodding along.

[Table 5]

At this stage, Im not even sure I want Wideman back early (or at all?). I like seeing what Nakladal and Jokipakka (or Wotherspoon) have to offer for the rest of the season. It would be shame to have to send Nakladal back down.

[dustygoon]

Does Wideman get to play after the 20 games even if the arbitration is still going on?

[Resolute 14]

Almost certainly.

[midniteowl]

Just suspends him for the rest of the season already!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It would be shame to have to send Nakladal back down.

Good news! They can't send Nakladal back down. He wasn't put through a paper transaction at the Deadline, so he can't go back to the AHL.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Hilarious.

I thought the article a few posts up was interesting, the arbitration case being a factor in the class action lawsuit. Huge implications ..

... the thread immediately goes to comments the caliber of "I don't want Wideman back"

*sigh*

[anyonebutedmonton]

Originally Posted by getbak

Good news! They can't send Nakladal back down. He wasn't put through a paper transaction at the Deadline, so he can't go back to the AHL.

I think he just can't play in the AHL playoffs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[getbak]

Originally Posted by anyonebutedmonton

I think he just can't play in the AHL playoffs.

13.12.j A Player may be Loaned to a club of any league affiliated with the League at any time up to 3:00 p.m. New York time of the fortieth (40th) day immediately preceding the final day of the Regular Season (the "Trade Deadline"). Following this period, no Player may be Loaned, except that:

(i) a Player who has been Recalled during such restricted period under Article 13.12(l), 13.12(m), or 13.12(n) may be Loaned back to the member club of the affiliated league from which they were Recalled;

(ii) a Player who is on the Bona-Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception, or who has been unfit for 24 calendar days and ten (10) NHL Regular Season games, may be Loaned on a Bona-Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception Conditioning Loan (with the Player's consent) pursuant to Section 13.9 above for a period not to exceed the longer of six (6) days and three (3) games (which Loan is not subject to any extension), provided, however, if the Player is not on the Bona-Fide Long Term Injury/Illness Exception, he cannot be Loaned while he is on Injured Reserve; and

(iii) a Player may be Loaned (with the Player's consent) provided such Player (a) was on Recall and was determined to be disabled as of the Trade Deadline, (b) is determined to be fit to play prior to such Loan, and (c) was on the Active Roster for less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the period from the beginning of the Regular Season up to and including the date on which he was determined to be disabled.

[Yamer]

So, again, I'm one of the few who saw it play out from BOTH angles and believes he meant to do it, even though it was a spur of the moment, emotion got the best of him kind of situation.

I've stated in this very thread that I hope the independent arbitrator does not reduce his suspension, on the basis I believe he meant to do it.

However, with how the NHL has handled it, and now how the arbitrator is stringing it out, I kind of hope the arbitrator completely reverses the decision and the NHL has to face the dilemma of handling that situation.

Whatever I believe about the moment and Wideman's motivation, this is absolutely, 100% disgraceful. They can rationalize whatever the hell way they want to, but to have such an inefficient system in place and to treat an employee and person this way should be a black mark on the league.

This should have, in a worst case scenario, been resolved no later than 14 days after the incident.

Dis-freaking-graceful.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Yamer

So, again, I'm one of the few who saw it play out from BOTH angles and believes he meant to do it, even though it was a spur of the moment, emotion got the best of him kind of situation.

I've stated in this very thread that I hope the independent arbitrator does not reduce his suspension, on the basis I believe he meant to do it.

However, with how the NHL has handled it, and now how the arbitrator is stringing it out, I kind of hope the arbitrator completely reverses the decision and the NHL has to face the dilemma of handling that situation.

Whatever I believe about the moment and Wideman's motivation, this is absolutely, 100% disgraceful. They can rationalize whatever the hell way they want to, but to have such an inefficient system in place and to treat an employee and person this way should be a black mark on the league.

This should have, in a worst case scenario, been resolved no later than 14 days after the incident.

Dis-freaking-graceful.

The arbitrator's position in my opinion will take in to account the greater implications of the class action lawsuit and absolve the NHL of accountability on its spotter

Or perhaps the spotter goes under the bus, but that still implies some accountability on the NHL for its spotter

[heep223]

I'm surprised the PA hasn't publicly piped up on this ridiculous kangaroo court, or did I miss that?

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by heep223

I'm surprised the PA hasn't publicly piped up on this ridiculous kangaroo court, or did I miss that?

Assuming you are speaking about the length of time this is taking. Daly has stated the PA chose the dates, if this is true (and I assume it is, because the PA didn't refute it) then there is nothing for them to say much of anything.