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Thread: NHL disagrees with arbitrator’s Dennis Wideman ruling

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    Default NHL disagrees with arbitrator’s Dennis Wideman ruling

    Roughly a month and a half after the controversial incident, the Dennis Wideman appeal process is over. And the NHL disagrees with the outcome.

    Independent a

    rbitrator James Oldham chopped the NHL’s 20-game suspension of the Calgary Flames defenceman in half Friday, making it a 10-game ban. Wideman won’t get back the extra nine games he’s sat out, but he will be reimbursed $282,258.06 in lost pay.


    Oldham’s decision reads as follows:

    The Commissioner’s basic conclusion — that Wideman’s on-ice behavior resulting in Linesman Henderson’s concussion constituted physical abuse of an official calling for Supplemental Discipline for on-ice conduct — was correct. Also, the Commissioner’s use of League Rule 40 (“Physical Abuse of Officials”) as a framework for analysis was appropriate.

    The Commissioner’s conclusion, however, that Wideman’s behavior constituted intentional action within the meaning of Rule 40.2, automatically triggering a penalty of not less than twenty games, is not endorsed in this appeal because, in my opinion, that conclusion is not substantially supported by the totality of the evidence presented to me at the NDA hearing.

    In my judgment, the proper penalty should have been that specified in League Rule 40.3. Taking into account Wideman’s eleven years of discipline-free performance as a professional hockey player, there is no occasion to go beyond the ten game minimum specified in Rule 40.3.

    Dennis Wideman’s penalty, therefore, should be reduced from twenty games to ten games, and it is so ordered.

    The case was heard March 5 and 6 in New York City.

    Wideman originally received a 20-game ban from NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell for cross-checking linesman Don Henderson during a game against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 27.

    An initial appeal saw Wideman’s suspension upheld by league commissioner Gary Bettman, but Wideman and the NHLPA opted to take the matter to a neutral party — an unprecedented step in appeal process.

    “We strenuously disagree with the Arbitrator’s ruling and are reviewing the Opinion in detail to determine what next steps may be appropriate,” the NHL stated in a release Friday.

    “We will have no further comment until we have completed our review. In light of and in response to Arbitrator Oldham’s Opinion, Mr. Wideman will be reinstated and will be eligible to participate in his team’s games, effective immediately.”

    Wideman has already missed 19 games to the ban, which originally had him forfeiting $564,516.13 in salary to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund for violating Rule 40 (Physical Abuse of Officials).

    The veteran blueliner was not penalized on the play. Henderson was able to complete the game but did spend a night in the hospital afterward to get checked out and has not returned to work since.

    Wideman apologized to Henderson on the ice and again publicly after receiving his ban.



    Prior to checking Henderson, Wideman had just been on the receiving end of a hard hit from Predators forward Miikka Salomaki. Wideman’s head rattled off the boards, he got up slowly, and appeared woozy as he skated to the Calgary bench.

    “I was just trying to get off the ice. And, at the last second, I looked up and saw him,” Wideman explained post-game. “I couldn’t avoid it. I didn’t know where to go or how to get out of the way of him.”


    Wideman did not, however, leave the bench to undergo concussion protocol. He cleared protocol some time after the game and returned to practice with the Flames.

    “Throughout my career I think I’ve treated every official with the utmost respect and I’d never try to intentionally hit a linesman or ref,” Wideman said.

    In making its case, the NHLPA was using medical evidence to explain Wideman’s actions.

    The Flames host the Arizona Coyotes Friday night, and Wideman should be available.

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    It was a bone head move on Widemans' part ,, but like the finding, taking into consideration
    his "eleven years of discipline-free performance as a professional hockey player", there should
    be no reason to throw the book at him like some of those other repeat offenders

    Plus that was a pile of money to lose, especially since there wasn't any significant hurt to the ref as
    a result of the hit ...

    Regardless of the hit 250K in penalties is sufficient ,,

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    what a load of garbage! Weidman deserves everything he got and is lucky he still can play in the NHL. He should have been turfed.
    Brain dead arbitrator should lose his job.....the pansy!

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    you must be a ref ... LOL

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    WHAT Wideman did wasn`t half as important as who he did it to.....the NHL, NFL, NBA or MLB will never tolerate abuse of an official for any reason(excuse), he`s lucky he didn`t get more even with no priors. Wideman`s punishment was being watched closely by officials everywhere and anything he got you can bet was discussed with top officials for their approval before the verdict came down. The NHL couldn`t care less of the arbitrator`s ruling.......what the NHL cared about is that they kept the officials happy with their original punishment.
    Last edited by The Cobra; 03-11-2016 at 11:05 PM.

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    I agree with you Cobra ,, but as an independent arbitrator I don't suspect he reached out to anyone for approval
    the decision would have had to come from him and him alone after having reviewed the case evidence as it was
    presented both in written and from oral arguments from both sides ....

    In the end the findings and his ruling most probably rested on the amount of fine $$ ,,, and 250K sounds like
    punishment enough.

    The old saying about punishment fitting the crime?? well 250K surpasses this crime ... only because Wideman
    is not a goon ....

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    Quote Originally Posted by TLG View Post
    I agree with you Cobra ,, but as an independent arbitrator I don't suspect he reached out to anyone for approval
    the decision would have had to come from him and him alone after having reviewed the case evidence as it was
    presented both in written and from oral arguments from both sides ....

    In the end the findings and his ruling most probably rested on the amount of fine $$ ,,, and 250K sounds like
    punishment enough.

    The old saying about punishment fitting the crime?? well 250K surpasses this crime ... only because Wideman
    is not a goon ....
    No question about it that an arbitrator rules by himself, what I was getting at was the NHL`s ruling came with approval of sorts not to ruffle the feathers of all NHL officials. In setting a punishment was more attentive to the reaction of officials than it was in punishing the crime.
    The NHL did it`s job, it kept the officials happy by dumping on Wideman.......the arbitrator did his job by making the punishment more reasonable.
    Last edited by The Cobra; 03-11-2016 at 11:23 PM.

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    I am far from a ref but played hockey all my life and hockey players are taught all their lives never to touch an official.
    Wideman is nothing but punk.....and so is his boyfriend the arbitrator. Take off the knee pads now Wideman...ya goof!

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    Quote Originally Posted by kenkell1 View Post
    I am far from a ref but played hockey all my life and hockey players are taught all their lives never to touch an official.
    Wideman is nothing but punk.....and so is his boyfriend the arbitrator. Take off the knee pads now Wideman...ya goof!
    Business as usual my friend.....politics of sports in it`s finest hr. NHL pandering the NHLRA, arbitrator appeasing the NHLPA giving the NHLPA nothing to "go after" the NHL about. One hand washed the other across the board....happens all the time but without the fanfare of headlines.

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    Quote Originally Posted by TLG View Post
    It was a bone head move on Widemans' part ,, but like the finding, taking into consideration
    his "eleven years of discipline-free performance as a professional hockey player", there should
    be no reason to throw the book at him like some of those other repeat offenders

    Plus that was a pile of money to lose, especially since there wasn't any significant hurt to the ref as
    a result of the hit ...

    Regardless of the hit 250K in penalties is sufficient ,,
    bullshat
    he said the only reason there was a hearing was cause of the press and the ref's
    the goof couldn't even take responsibility for his actions
    maybe the just sentence should have been a crosscheck to head from behind by the linesman as he was heading to the locker room not expecting it

    DODGE the father

    RAM the daughter



    “Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.”

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    Quote Originally Posted by dishuser View Post
    bullshat
    he said the only reason there was a hearing was cause of the press and the ref's
    the goof couldn't even take responsibility for his actions
    maybe the just sentence should have been a crosscheck to head from behind by the linesman as he was heading to the locker room not expecting it
    `d have at least some respect for Wideman if he just said "I was pissed that I got hit and I took it out on the first thing that got in my way"
    I

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