Dennis Wideman’s appeal for his 20-game suspension will take place in New York City on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun.
The 32-year-old has already served two games for his hit on linesman Don Henderson (above).
Gary Bettman will be the one to decide if Wideman’s suspension should be reduced. If the Commissioner decides not to reduce the suspension to six games or less, the Flames defenseman will have the right to be heard by a neutral arbitrator.
Bettman doesn't reduce suspension to fewer than 6 games, Wideman will have to right to a neutral arbitrator, which will be James Oldham
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 6, 2016
Meant to say "if" Bettman doesn't reduce to fewer than 6 games,which is doubtful. So for 1st time in this CBA, should see neutral arbitrator
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 6, 2016
Earlier this week, Wideman apologized publicly for the incident, but maintained that he never intended to hurt Henderson.
“I feel awful about what happened,” the Flames defenseman said after he was suspended 20 games.
“I feel really bad about the whole situation. The last seven days have been tough. Never in my career have I ever disrespected, or done anything like this, to an official.”
When the suspension was handed down, the league said Wideman was diagnosed with a concussion after the game, but they aren’t using that as an excuse in this case.
“It is accepted for the purposes of this decision that he was later diagnosed as having suffered a concussion,” the NHL said. “However, that fact even accepted as true, cannot excuse Wideman’s subsequent actions.”