NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has upheld Dennis Wideman’s 20-game suspension for abuse of officials.
Wideman had appealed the suspension that was originally assessed by the NHL’s senior executive VP of hockey operations, Colin Campbell.
Click here to read Bettman’s decision.
In it, Bettman dismissed the contention that “Mr. Wideman’s actions were the result of confusion” due to a concussion, the commissioner adding that he was “left with the firm view that a significant suspension is appropriate” and that he was “troubled by Mr. Wideman’s total failure to accept any responsibility for his actions.”
As you can see in the excerpt below, Bettman also noted a text message that Wideman sent to a teammate on Feb. 2
Wideman is expected to appeal further to an independent arbitrator.
More to come on PHT.