Dennis Wideman joins the Kitchener Rangers as assistant coach

[sureLoss]

I think a few people were wondering what was next for him:

http://kitchenerrangers.com/article/...ssistant-coach

The Kitchener Rangers announced Thursday that Dennis Wideman will join the Club for the remainder of the regular season as an assistant coach.

Wideman, a Kitchener native, spent five seasons in the OHL as a defenceman with the Sudbury Wolves and London Knights from 1999-2004.

Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 8th round, 241st overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, he spent just over a season in the American Hockey League [Worcester IceCats (2004-05), Peoria Rivermen (2005-06)] before making his NHL debut as member of the St. Louis Blues in 2005-06.

Along with the Blues, he would also dress for the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames through to the end of the 2016-17 season. He registered 100 goals and 419 points in 870 regular season and playoff games combined over the course of his 12 NHL seasons.

“Dennis will bring a wealth of knowledge from his NHL career that can help our players develop, especially our young defencemen,” said Rangers’ general manager Mike McKenzie.

“As an OHL player he was once in the same spot as many of our players are now, so he understands what it takes to get to that next level they all strive to reach.

“We would like to welcome Dennis and his family to the Rangers organization”

Insert Wideman effect joke about Kitchner

[TheScorpion]

Good news. Great to see him land on his feet, hope he has success.

I'll always remember that 2014-15 season fondly.

[CroFlames]

Is he more famous for that hilarious shootout gaffe, or the Henderson hit?

I still maintain there was no malicious intent. Sue me.

[neo45]

Hated the player but I think he was innocent and got really mistreated by the league.

[locsofblu]

Did a stupid thing but good he's moved on.

[Locke]

Hmm....sounds like bad news for the Kitchener Rangers....beware the 'Wideman Effect.'

[btimbit]

Cool! I didnt know he wanted to get into coaching. Best of luck to him

[Bourque's Twin]

Now the Kitchener Rangers will be the most penalized team in the league.

[N-E-B]

Good for him. He was awful his last season but he did have a few good years here too, including one fantastic year in 2015.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Good for him. He was awful his last season but he did have a few good years here too, including one fantastic year in 2015.

I agree. Good for him. Honestly, I dont wish him any ill-will. We can talk about the 'Wideman Effect' or whatever else but I am still no convinced he ever meant to crosscheck a linesman, its just so out of character.

Further, other than his last year he was nothing but a faithful soldier, his skills just eventually dropped off a cliff. Players get old. It happens.

The whole Henderson affair just clouds what was otherwise a pretty solid stint in Flames silks.

He was no Anders Eriksson though.

[Huntingwhale]

Yeah he was pretty good for 70% of his tenure here. When he signed, Gio wasn't yet a #1 D and Bouweester couldn't handle the load. We had no PPQB, no bomb from the point and Brodie wasn't yet a 'thing'. Wideman came in and played like a #1D and brought all those intangibles with him until Gio really broke out. I was always a fan of him up until his decline. But IMO he lived up his contract for the most part and him and Gaudreau had insane chemistry. He played a big role getting helping the team to the playoffs and I'll always be grateful to him for that.

[direwolf]

Good to hear. He certainly had a rough go of it the last couple of years. Say what you want about the guy, but he was an absolute beast for us in 2015 after Gio went down, and I prefer to remember him for that instead of the Wideman effect.