Well. Wideman is going to have really fucking long all-star break.
That link wasn’t playing the video of the Wideman hit for me, so here it is on Youtube.
So many things wrong with hit and the play leading up to the hit. I’ve heard some people say that Wideman was woozy from the hit he had just taken and the video does seem to support that. However, I can’t imagine that he was so stunned from the hit that he couldn’t recognize the stripped shirt. There was no penalty on the play, there should have been, and Wideman was not singled out by concussion spotters and probably should have been.
I have to guess that he gets at least 20 games.
Here’s an even better angle on that play.
I’d have no problem with criminal assault charges on that one, a suspension for the rest of the season seems like a reasonable minimum.
Having been concussed playing hockey myself, and having my “bell rung” countless times, I have to disagree. I am 100% able to believe that Wideman was disoriented enough to act in a way that he wouldn’t have had he been in his right mind. It can be extremely disorienting to be hit in the head. He has no history of this type of behavior. The episode is bizarre.
The way I see it, someone is going to be in big trouble - either Wideman or the Flames staff. As you said, if Wideman claims he was woozy from being hit in the head, there’s no way he should’ve continued play immediately afterward. The Flames should’ve screened him for a concussion. On the other hand, if Wideman denies any concussion type symptoms, it will all fall on him. By not removing him, they’re painted into a corner.
I have to say, the more I read about John Scott and see him interviewed, the more I respect I have for him. And the less I have for the league.
(And Shea Weber just came extremely close to setting a new record for fastest slapshot. Damn!)
For sure. He wrote a really good article for the players tribune:
I liked the Scottian spin-a-rama he pulled out last night. I’m glad he got the positive reception that he did.
That was fucking awesome! Thanks so much for posting it; I never would have found that otherwise.
And Scott has 2 pretty ones in the 3 on 3 so far:)
I don’t get NBCSN, but I’m still fairly bewildered as to how this format is supposed to get me more interested in watching than the lovely 15-11 scores that I’ve grown accustomed to.
That was the best NHL All-Star Game ever! Grats to John Scott! MVP! MVP!
For an all star game with limited checking, it was a pretty good game. Both of the first two games were close enough that the loser pulled their goalies. The 3-on-3 shifts attention to play making and goal tending. Not great hockey but closer than the score-a-thons of the past.
I disagree; I thought the 3-on-3 format gave us some great hockey. I liked that because it was the All-Star game and because the ice was so open, there was very limited physical contact. Instead what we got was great passing, great skating and a lot of good shots on goal: great hockey, nothing else.
I also liked the elimination tournament format. I thought the 20 minute games were just the right length; I even commented to my buddy that it was the same period length we all used when we played the various NHL video games. Just enough time to get things rolling and get things done, IMO.
And I thought the mandatory goalie switch for each half was a great idea too. If the first goalie did well, it was all on the 2nd guy’s shoulders to not fuck it up; if the 1st goalie let a bunch of shorts thru, the 2nd guy had a chance to save the game.
All in all, I was very happy with the All-Star weekend. Saturday was a lot of fun, with some awesome displays of skill and a bunch of good-natured clowning around and Sunday was, quite simply, the greatest All-Star game day that I’ve ever seen. Great hockey, good fun and, as was exemplified by the fans and the players choosing John Scott for MVP, good people.
ETA: Don’t change a thing for next year, NHL!
Okay, it may sound like a petty complaint, but I really, REALLY wish the Pens would bring back “Boys of Winter”. Don’t get me wrong, I loves me some AC/DC, but it’s just not the same.
Caps vs. Penguins snow make-up will be March 1
Caps vs. Ducks snow make-up will be April 10
Previously, the final regular season games were on April 9.
What a great article!
Thoughts on the new Leafs retro logo? I really like it a lot! I dig the retro vibe, but think it won’t look out of place on a more modern styled uniform, either .
I like it; a nod to the past for the centennial year and all that. It is busier than the current logo, but I think it will be popular for a year or two of merchandising!
Dennis Wideman suspended for 20 days. Even if you buy his version of the story, that is the right number.
Sounds fine to me; that was a brutal hit. The fact that he refused medical assistance and continued to play hinders my full acceptance of his story; I can buy most of Wideman’s story except for the “unintentional” part. I understand the NHLPA’s appeal (they are bound to advocate, after all), but I hope in the end Wideman will just shut up and accept his suspension.
ETA: ESPN has the story, including lots of comments from both sides.