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It was announced on Jan.27 that the Calgary Flames Dennis Wideman would be suspended for 20 games following a run-in he had with a linesman in the team’s game against the Nashville Predators on Jan.20. Wideman received a 20-game suspension, as per rule 40.2, which requires such a suspension if an injury on an official was intentional. The NHLPA, however, does not believe that Wideman’s hit was intentional and have scheduled an appeal.
Sideman, who was concussed at the time of the hit, has stated on multiple occasions that the hit was accidental and that he had not intended to injure the official; Wideman has also apologized to the linesman, Don Henderson, who suffered a concussion on the hit and has not returned to work yet.
The appeal will take place on Wednesday and will be heard by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. The Flames are planning to provide medical experts who can testify that Wideman was less aware while concussed and that he would have been disoriented when he ran into Henderson.
The fact that Wideman was concussed during the hit can also cause a problem for the Flames because the Flames had allowed Wideman to continue and finish the game despite concussion protocol, which states that a player must not play if a concussion is likely.
If, through the appeal, the league finds that Wideman’s hit was not intentional then the rule on his suspension will change, making the minimum of suspended games 10 rather than the 20 he received. If the Flames do not get the outcome that they are looking for through this appeal, they will be able to file for a second appeal to an independent arbitrator. The only problem with this is that the independent arbitrator can also increase the suspension, as well as having the power to reduce it.
