Paul Stewart: Henderson

Well said Paul, their are alot of Internet punks unfortunately! They weren't brought up properly by their parents? Didn't get enough hugs? We're not taught empathy for others?,respect, the list goes on! ,but welcome to the new society of what's in it for me?and I know everything crowd, I have sympathy for this man and his family, knowing how any injury to the spine affects your every day life,I myself broke my back in a motorcycle accident and had to eventually retire, I too hope he gets this payment (u.s. funds!) But unfortunately for him he will have a lifetime of pain and suffering of a certain degree! I wish him and his family all the best! P.s. in writing this article it shows the kind of man that you are! Well done sir!

Excellent post Paul - The weakness of the excuse that he wasn't in his right mind after the hit and that he cough cough hit Hendy by accident is so weak and a blatant lie - It was deliberate and intentional and anyone who says otherwise is just a flat out Liar -

Excellent post Paul - The weakness of the excuse that he wasn't in his right mind after the hit and that he cough cough hit Hendy by accident is so weak and a blatant lie - It was deliberate and intentional and anyone who says otherwise is just a flat out Liar -
- dozerD10

Agreed. Whether or not he was in a proper state of mind doesn't absolve him. If someone is drunk and kills someone, are they not at fault because they were drunk? He didn't nudge or bump him, he attacked him from behind. So while I can admit that Wideman may not have been fully aware of the extent of his actions, that does not fully absolve him, either.

Right on Stewie. Henderson got (frank)ing drilled for no good reason. He's only doing what he has to do for his family.

I also like you bringing up Burke. What would his reaction be if during a play a linesman ran into Wideman and ended his career?

Excellent post Paul - The weakness of the excuse that he wasn't in his right mind after the hit and that he cough cough hit Hendy by accident is so weak and a blatant lie - It was deliberate and intentional and anyone who says otherwise is just a flat out Liar -
- dozerD10

I am NOT excusing him of the play, but he was concussed, that is not disputable. Why would he hit the linesmen? What motive did he have? I think he thought that was the opposing player. Again, that does NOT absolve him of the play. You do the crime, you must do the time.

I am NOT excusing him of the play, but he was concussed, that is not disputable. Why would he hit the linesmen? What motive did he have? I think he thought that was the opposing player. Again, that does NOT absolve him of the play. You do the crime, you must do the time.
- B2B76

The NHLPA does not agree with this statement. Nor does the DOPS.

I am NOT excusing him of the play, but he was concussed, that is not disputable. Why would he hit the linesmen? What motive did he have? I think he thought that was the opposing player. Again, that does NOT absolve him of the play. You do the crime, you must do the time.
- B2B76

He was angry and his judgement was impaired? That's my takeaway.

I would go for that cash to. His quality of life won't be the same.

Agreed. Whether or not he was in a proper state of mind doesn't absolve him. If someone is drunk and kills someone, are they not at fault because they were drunk? He didn't nudge or bump him, he attacked him from behind. So while I can admit that Wideman may not have been fully aware of the extent of his actions, that does not fully absolve him, either.
- jmatchett383

Wideman didn't purposefully try to get hit in a way that would make him unaware of the extent of his actions that followed the hit. When drinking you do so purposefully. This is a garbage comparison.

Still does not make what he did okay. Regardless of if it had been a player instead of a ref it would be a bad thing to just hit someone for being near you. Then all the dumb things he's said since just makes him sound worse and worse.

Right on Stewie. Henderson got (frank)ing drilled for no good reason. He's only doing what he has to do for his family.

I also like you bringing up Burke. What would his reaction be if during a play a linesman ran into Wideman and ended his career?


- 6628

Burkie is a tool and a punching bag. The amount of crap that comes out of his mouth is unfathomable.

He was angry and his judgement was impaired? That's my takeaway.
- PancakesPenner

I agree w this completely, he thought it was the opposing player. I was basically asking, "why would HE, hit the official on purpose? It doesn't make any sense. He's still accountable for doing it, but why did he do it? Most obvious answer is, he was concussed.

From CBS sports last week.

It's pretty clear from the video, reviewed extensively more than a year ago, that Wideman suffered big contact himself. The debate, however, will rage on about whether his skate back to the bench -- and the forceful blow to Henderson's backside along the way -- was delivered with ill intent or from a mere state of confusion. Common sense says that Wideman's progression from dazed victim to blatant bully does not add up.

i agree.

From CBS sports last week.

It's pretty clear from the video, reviewed extensively more than a year ago, that Wideman suffered big contact himself. The debate, however, will rage on about whether his skate back to the bench -- and the forceful blow to Henderson's backside along the way -- was delivered with ill intent or from a mere state of confusion. Common sense says that Wideman's progression from dazed victim to blatant bully does not add up.

i agree.
- Fountain-San

me too, that was my main point, he's still 100% responsible for what he did, but this idea that Wideman was a crazed lunatic who wanted to Injure the official is insane.

me too, that was my main point, he's still 100% responsible for what he did, but this idea that Wideman was a crazed lunatic who wanted to Injure the official is insane.
- B2B76

yep for sure.

Excellent post Paul - The weakness of the excuse that he wasn't in his right mind after the hit and that he cough cough hit Hendy by accident is so weak and a blatant lie - It was deliberate and intentional and anyone who says otherwise is just a flat out Liar -
- dozerD10

based on what?

based on what?
- Fountain-San

On the irrefutable video - You've played - you've been hit hard - just watch that video - he could have skated around Hendy - stayed on the wall - he skated directly at Hendy and crosschecked him - I just watched it again - it's so blatantly obvious - you hear Kelly on the broadcast say he doesn't even see the linesman .. What BS he was looking right at him -

I would like to know where the 10 million dollar figure comes from. Is this the amount an NHL linesman would make in a career, or are we just looking at the size of the wallets involved.

Henderson deserves to be compensated for his lost wages, plus a little in pain and suffering. Just my opinion as someone that lives with a pinched nerve in the back. But I just can't see 10 million.

Paul Stewart: Henderson
- Paul Stewart

You know what Paul. I'm going to say my piece & you can call me whatever you like. I was at that game that it happened & my take was:
1/WTF was Wideman doing. Yes he got his bell dinged on the hit by the Nashville player, but he didn't lay on the ice motionless or writhing in pain. He wasn't knocked out or anything. He got up slowly, looked enraged about the hit, & through emotion, aggressively hit the first poor soul that went in front of him. No intent to deliberately target an official per sec, just a violent inappropriate reaction to taking a nasty hit. Wideman was way out of line. Personally, he should have been suspended for the rest of the season without pay & without the ability to appeal. Hurt or not, there is just no excuse or defending what he did.

2/I don't like you blaming the organization for what the player did. In what world do you think the Flames would condone & instruct their players to behave the way Wideman did. Burke is smart enough to know that his player was way out of line but he absolutely had to stand behind his player, especially to defend that Wideman had no malicious premeditated intent to injure Henderson. If that were the case, there would have been a criminal investigation. It's a reactionary sport.

3/ Yes, Henderson is entitled to a financial award for what he has endured & will have to cope with for the remainder of his life. Not sure what that number is or even if you can put a dollar value on this but I would say it would be in the best interest for all parties to settle this quickly & fairly & the League, Flames, Players Association & Wideman split the tab. A concussion defence would not be a wise option.


Here is where I want to throw a stone back at the Officiating Community. Since this incident happened, the Flames have been given the Wideman treatment with the horsecrap penalty calls & reviews. This retribution to the organization & fans of the team has really soured my opinion on the calibre of officiating in the NHL. This is where two wrongs don't make a right. Do the referee community actually think & feel righteous about punishing fans & the organization for the ill advised independent behaviour of one of the players. The fans & Flames Management were as mortified by what Wideman did as anyone else. No one cheered him on, Hartley never sent Wideman on the ice & tell him to go layout an official. I understand concerns officials have on the protocol & protection of officials from player abuse in the game. But it's time for the Official community to man up & go after the NHL rather than this "Dirty Harry Magnum Force" style of retribution to the fans & team of the negligent player that we have experienced here since the incident. I hope Henderson can get better & is taken care of & I hope the Officials stop taking this out on the Flames & it's fans.

Well said Paul!

On the irrefutable video - You've played - you've been hit hard - just watch that video - he could have skated around Hendy - stayed on the wall - he skated directly at Hendy and crosschecked him - I just watched it again - it's so blatantly obvious - you hear Kelly on the broadcast say he doesn't even see the linesman .. What BS he was looking right at him -
- dozerD10

right but what if he was concussed to the point of confusion? what part of the video rules that in or out?

Yet he wasn't concussed to the point of having to leave the game? Funny that.

Paul Stewart: Henderson
- Paul Stewart

Bravo, sir, bravo!

Here is where I want to throw a stone back at the Officiating Community. Since this incident happened, the Flames have been given the Wideman treatment with the horsecrap penalty calls & reviews.
- Kevin R

According to posts in just about every blog on this site the refs are always against (insert any team name here).

According to posts in just about every blog on this site the refs are always against the Oilers.
- Scoob