CALGARY — A chill is moving through the NHL Players Association, over commissioner Gary Bettman’s access to a text message sent by Calgary Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman, and its role in his decision to uphold Wideman’s 20-game suspension.
Bettman explained his decision to uphold the suspension in a 22-page document Wednesday.
The sentence easily garnering the most attention is in the last paragraph of the last page — a text message Wideman sent to a teammate on Feb. 2, 2016.
“The only problem and the only reason i’m here is cause the stupid refs and stupid media,” the message reads.
That caught many of Wideman’s fellow players off guard.
“It’s a learning experience for all of us players, and something were going to have to be cognizant of in the future,” said Joe Colborne, a forward with the Flames. “Guess you can’t be texting your teammates too much anymore.”
Many are wondering how Bettman was able to access the text message.
The answer could be in a clause in the latest collective bargaining agreement, which states, “The Commissioner shall have the authority to consider any evidence relating to the incident even if such evidence was not available at the time of the initial Supplementary Discipline for On-Ice Conduct decision.”
“If that’s the rule, that’s the rule — if they have full ability to go after that kind of stuff then it’s a little unfortunate,” said forward David Jones.
“Text messages, it’s been proven time and again, can be taken out of context,” Colborne added.
During the second period of the Flames’ 2-1 loss to Nashville on Jan. 27, Wideman was checked hard into the boards by Predators winger Miikka Salomaki.
Wideman banged his stick on the ice, then knocked down Henderson in front of the Predators bench.
Wideman said he was in pain and was just trying to get off the ice, adding that he couldn’t avoid Henderson.
READ MORE: Flames rally behind Dennis Wideman regardless of suspension ruling
The last time a player’s text messages were under scrutiny was in the NFL Deflategate controversy last year. In that case, quarterback Tom Brady claimed his phone was broken and so that evidence was never used in the investigation.
In Wideman’s case, not only was the information used, it’s now public.
“I think it’s a little unfair to throw that out for everyone,” Jones said. “I don’t think that needed to be put in the press release — it’s a little unfair to him, he’s a little disappointed, obviously with the way things have gone and I think he’s an honest player.”
The NHLPA plans to appeal the suspension to a third party neutral arbitrator — a first in NHL history.
It’s not clear how long that will take.
The length of the suspension includes seven games already served, making Wideman eligible to return to the Flames lineup on Mar. 14.
Wideman will forfeit US$564,516 to the players’ emergency assistance fund.
With files from Mia Sosiak and the Canadian Press