Boy, look at how the NHL Players’ Association stands up for its members when there is a clear and present enemy coming from outside its ranks.
The vigor with which the PA is attacking the league over this Dennis Wideman 20-game suspension is unprecedented. This is the first time under the new collective bargaining agreement that a suspension is being appealed to a Neutral Discipline Arbitrator. By the time it gets there, the 20-game term likely will be close to complete — game No. 9 is Friday night. It’s an argument now being made almost solely for its own self-sustaining purpose and future precedent rather than Wideman’s well-being.
The union even took a swipe at commissioner Gary Bettman, who upheld the suspension through the original appeal after a meeting with the Flames defenseman on Feb. 10.
“We are extremely disappointed but not surprised that Gary Bettman upheld the decision,” the PA said in a statement.
No matter which side of the fence you fall on, this was a tough spot for Bettman. Wideman cross-checked referee Don Henderson in a game on Jan. 27 — the hit later was found to have concussed Henderson — just eight seconds after Wideman himself was concussed on a hit into the boards. If Bettman cut down the suspension, it would be setting a bad precedent for abuse of officials, even if there are different levels of Rule 40 that don’t necessitate a 20-game ban. Yet the commissioner certainly opened up a can of labor-law worms when he cited Wideman’s personal text messages to a teammate, which according to the league read: “[T]he only problem and the only reason I’m here is cause the stupid refs and stupid media.”
The union makes a good point in disputing that Bettman’s decision “completely ignores the effects of the concussion that Dennis sustained.” It does. Bettman attempted to undercut the union’s two concussion specialists by saying they took what Wideman said about his confused state “at face value” and didn’t consult with the team physicians. (There seemingly isn’t anyone more culpable in this situation than the Flames organization and training staff for not diagnosing the concussion right away, even allowing Wideman to keep playing in that game.)
Bettman also seemed to make light of the fact that the union never asked for a reduction of suspension, but rather a full redaction. Listen, the guy should have been suspended, and if Bettman wasn’t too caught up in being so laywer-y, he might have seen the PA even slightly conceding that point. The only thing disputed was the term.
But, hey, does anyone remember the last time the union got this up in arms when the penalty was for a player-on-player crime? As the union tries to force Bettman to explain his defense of the league’s actions in detail, how about looking at their own members and asking for the same type of accountability?
Just because Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas is a paying member of the union doesn’t mean they need to minimize his season of continued brutality. Wideman gets 20 games for being concussed and bumping a ref, but Gudas, a serial offender who is seriously injuring other players, has missed three games all season after at least four different episodes of clear-cut, malevolent headshots?
Not surprising that he then did this to the Devils’ Bobby Farnham on Tuesday:
How about Gudas’ teammate Wayne Simmonds, getting not one second more of punishment beyond his game misconduct for a sucker-punch to the jaw of Ryan McDonagh back on Feb. 6 that concussed the Rangers captain? Or how about the Maple Leafs’ Leo Komarov getting the old slap-on-the-wrist suspension for his brutal elbow to the just-recovered McDonagh on Thursday night in Toronto?
Those types of plays are the ones that need to be taken out of the game, and that only happens with meaningful suspensions — suspensions just like the one Wideman got.
If any player in the union is actually serious about making the game safer — actually concerned about CTE and the long-term effects of concussions, which should scare them all to their marrow — then it has to start with them fighting with the same vigor they’ve shown against a different and easier enemy.
The only way this issue gets under control is the union starting with self-discipline.
Montreal’s massive mistake
The free fall continues for the Canadiens, and the problems go far beyond missing the injured reigning Hart Trophy winner, goalie Carey Price. But you know who isn’t a problem? P.K. Subban.
And yet a report from French-Canadian outlet TVA on Friday said general manager Marc Bergevin is beginning to consider trading the terrific and mercurial defenseman, along with his $9 million salary-cap hit through 2021-22. The relationship between Subban and coach Michel Therrien seemingly has become untenable. Therrien said Subban’s play that led to the game-winning goal against the Avalanche on Wednesday was “a selfish play.”
Maybe Subban should’ve dumped in it, but he was trying to make something happen for his team that desperately needs players who are trying to turn it around. I take the guy who tries something spectacular and occasionally fails over the one just going through the motions, 100 times out of 100.
“It’s funny, when it’s time to make a distinction between player and teammate, everybody underlines how my personality is different from the others,” Subban told La Presse, as translated from the French by Google. “But look at other teams, the situation is the same. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are not the same type of guys and they find ways to get along. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin in Dallas, same thing. Why is it different with me? All I want is what’s best for the team.”
If it comes down to Subban or Therrien, and it’s Therrien that stays, a 1920s newspaperman might be inclined to label it “Bergevin’s Boner.”
Stevie explaining ‘Y’
Interesting tactic by Lightning GM Steve Yzerman, sending out a short press release on Monday declaring he won’t trade pending unrestricted free agent Steven Stamkos before the Feb. 29 deadline. His team is fighting for a playoff spot, and the last thing he needed was the constant questions about a possible trade — which had already started and would only intensify.
There seems to be a major gap in dollars during the negotiations for a contract extension — something like $10 million per season offered to $12 million asked, totaling a $16 million gap on a possible eight-year deal for the just-turned 26-year-old. Yzerman has not hesitated in the past to make bold moves, and most have turned out well. If the Lightning can’t strike a deal and Stamkos leaves for nothing in return this summer, this will be one that backfired.
Stay tuned …
… to the evolving Evander Kane saga. In hockey’s version of Johnny Manziel, Kane is a talented guy who just can’t get out of his own way. Traveling from Buffalo to Toronto for the NBA All-Star Game last weekend is not a problem. Documenting your all-night party on social media and then sleeping through practice the next day? Well, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma suspended him for one game, but when is Kane going to learn? His disaster in Winnipeg — getting his “track suit” thrown into the shower by teammate Dustin Byfuglien before being traded — wasn’t enough?
It will be interesting to see if Bylsma can actually get through to Kane, because if he’s not part of the Sabres rebuild, he might be nearing his final “kick at the can,” as Alain Vigneault might say.
Parting shot
The save of the year right now might go all the way down to the ECHL, where 5-foot-6, 155-pound Jeff Lerg made this spectacular twirling stop on Sunday for his Toledo Walleye, an affiliate of the Red Wings. Lerg was a four-year starter at Michigan State, which included winning the 2007 national championship, so maybe giant-sized goalies aren’t the future.