Wideman gets half his money back

Calgary Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke says Dennis Wideman’s suspension dilemma is a closed case and it’s time to move on.

Wideman’s 20-game suspension for physically abusing an official was reduced to 10 games by an independent arbitrator, who ruled that the Flames defenceman did not intend to injure linesman Don Henderson.

In an 18-page ruling Friday, James Oldham wrote that he agreed with the NHL’s decision to suspend Wideman, but he disagreed that there was sufficient evidence to show the player deliberately wanted to injure Henderson when he hit him during a game on Jan. 27.

Burke addressed the decision prior to Friday night’s game against Arizona.

“We are grateful that the finding was made that the contact was not made with any intent to injure the official involved. We believe that’s the case,” said Burke. “We also fully support sanctions against players that make deliberate contact with officials.

“Our goal is to put this all behind us now. I consider the matter closed.”

Wideman was reinstated immediately and will be in the line-up against the Coyotes. The 11year NHL veteran is expected to address the media after the game.

One criticism of the process from Burke has been how long it took. Commissioner Gary Bettman initially upheld the NHL’s 20-game suspension on Wideman’s appeal. The NHLPA then appealed to an independent arbitrator.

The defenceman has already served 19 games of the 20-game suspension.

Over that time the NHL trade deadline came and went and Calgary tumbled out of playoff contention.

But Burke chose not to express frustration or anger over that. Instead his attitude was one of acceptance, adding that it was a learning experience for all involved.

“This is uncharted waters for everybody. It’s a new process. It’s the first time a neutral discipline arbitrator has been involved so to throw rocks at anyone about the length of time it took I think is counter-productive,” he said.

He added that this is the situation that’s been created considering the arbitration process that’s part of the CBA is what was agreed to by the NHL and NHLPA.

“This is what the parties negotiated and I was part of the process for a stretch of time,” Burke said.