Dennis Wideman

Dennis Earl Wideman (born March 20, 1983) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Wideman was drafted in the eighth round, 241st overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Minor

Wideman grew up playing his minor hockey in his hometown of Elmira, Ontario, playing for the Woolwich Township Wildcats "B" of the OMHA's Tri-County League and the Guelph Reps AAA Bantams of the OMHA's South Central AAA League in 1997–98.

Wideman spent the 1998–99 season with the Elmira Sugar Kings of the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League (MWJHL), scoring 18 goals and 48 points in 47 games. He was then drafted by the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Wideman began his OHL career with the Wolves in the 1999–2000 season. In his rookie season in Sudbury, he had ten goals and 36 points in 63 games. He then added three points in 12 games in the playoffs. Wideman began 2000–01 in Sudbury, scoring seven goals and 18 points in 25 games before being traded to the London Knights.

Wideman finished the 2000–01 season with London, earning eight goals and 16 points in 24 games with the Knights. In the playoffs, Wideman had four assists in five games. He exploded offensively in the 2001–02 season, scoring 27 goals and 69 points in 65 games with London, while registering 141 penalty minutes. In 12 playoff games, Wideman had four goals and 13 points. He had another solid offensive season in 2002–03, as Wideman had 20 goals and 47 points in 55 games. He then added six goals and 12 points in 13 playoff games Wideman returned to London as an over-ager in 2003–04, and had another very solid season. He scored 24 goals and had 65 points in 60 games, while posting a +52 rating. In 15 playoff games, Wideman scored seven goals and 17 points to finish his junior career.

Professional

St. Louis Blues

Wideman signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues on June 30, 2004. He played his first professional season with the Worcester IceCats of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2004–05. In 79 games with Worcester, Wideman had 13 goals and 43 points. He then began the 2005–06 season with Blues' new affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, also of the AHL, scoring two goals and six points in 12 games. Wideman was then called up to the NHL and appeared in 67 games with the Blues in 2005–06, scoring eight goals and 24 points. In 2006–07, Wideman made the Blues out of training camp, and in 55 games, he scored five goals and 22 points. On February 27, 2007, the Blues traded Wideman to the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Brad Boyes.

Boston Bruins

Wideman with the Bruins

Wideman finished the 2006–07 season with the Bruins, as he recorded three points in 20 games with the team. He broke out offensively in the 2007–08 season, scoring 13 goals and 36 points in 81 games, helping the Bruins return to the Stanley Cup playoffs. On December 31, 2007, he scored a memorable goal at 4:40 of the second period against Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen during a power play — it was the 18,000th goal in Bruins history.^[1] In the 2008 playoffs, Wideman had three assists in six games. In 2008–09, Wideman once again had a very solid offensive season, scoring 13 goals and 50 points in 79 games to tie Zdeno Chára for most points by a defenceman on the team. Wideman also finished sixth in the NHL with a +32 rating. In 11 2009 playoff games, Wideman had seven assists. He struggled in the 2009–10 season, however, scoring only six goals and 30 points in 76 games. Despite his lower regular season point production, he had a very strong offensive 2010 playoff performance, scoring a goal and 12 points in 13 games. On June 22, 2010, the Bruins traded Wideman, their first-round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and their third-round pick in 2011 to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell.^[2]

Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames

Wideman had a solid offensive season with the Panthers in 2010–11, as he scored nine goals and 33 points in 61 games. The Panthers traded Wideman to the Washington Capitals for Jake Hauswirth and the Capitals' third-round draft pick in 2011. At the time of the trade, Wideman was second on the Panthers' scoring list.^[3]

Wideman played two seasons in Washington.

On December 9, 2011, Wideman was initially credited with the first hat-trick in his career in a 4–2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.^[4] The following day, however, the play was reviewed and his third goal was officially credited to teammate Brooks Laich, with Wideman receiving the primary assist.^[5] Despite the change, the game remained the first four-point performance of his career.^[4]

At the conclusion of the 2011–12 season, as a pending unrestricted free agent, Wideman's rights were traded to the Calgary Flames on June 27, 2012, in exchange for Jordan Henry and a fifth-round draft pick. Wideman was then immediately signed to a five-year, $26.25 million contract with the Flames.^[6] He recorded six goals and 16 assists during the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, his first with the Flames.

Abuse of Linesman Incident

On January 27, 2016, Wideman hit linesman Don Henderson from behind in a game between the Flames and Nashville Predators. Video footage showed Wideman getting body checked along the boards by the Predators' Miikka Salomaki and getting up slowly. As he skated to the bench, he cross-checked the linesman violently from behind. Following the game, Wideman claimed the check was unintentional and that he did not see Henderson until the last moment.^[7] Henderson suffered a concussion as a result of the collision and would miss the remainder of the 2015–16 NHL season.^[8] It was later revealed that Wideman had also suffered a concussion on the Salomaki body check and refused treatment by the Flames' training staff, in violation of the NHL's mandatory head injury protocols.^[9]

Wideman was suspended indefinitely the next day, pending a hearing after the All-Star break.^[10] On February 3, he was handed a 20-suspension without pay for the incident, the minimum sanction for deliberately striking an on-ice official under NHL Rule 40.2.^[11] Wideman also forfeited $564,516.18 in salary. While the NHL acknowledged that Wideman had been injured, it took the line that any possible disorientation Wideman suffered did not excuse the attack on Henderson.^[12]

The suspension was immediately appealed to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who upheld the initial ruling, saying that a lengthy ban was merited given "the severity of the conduct involved." Bettman was also angered by Wideman's lack of remorse, citing a text Wideman sent to a teammate in which he blamed the furor over the hit on "the stupid refs and the stupid media." The National Hockey League Players' Association then appealed Wideman's suspension to a neutral arbitrator—the first time that this procedure had been used since the adoption of the renewed collective bargaining agreement. On March 11, arbitrator James Oldham concluded Wideman's attack on Henderson was not intentional and that he should have been penalized under Rule 40.3, thus reducing the penalty to 10 games. Wideman had already served 19 games at the time of the ruling but was refunded half of his forfeited salary.^[13][14][15]

Career statistics

See also

• 2015–16 NHL suspensions and fines

References

External links

• Dennis Wideman's career statistics at EliteProspects.com
  
• Dennis Wideman's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database