Dennis Wideman
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Dennis Earl Wideman (born March 20, 1983) is a
Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...
former professional
ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
defenceman Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from Goal (ice hockey), scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the l ...
who played in the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL). Wideman was drafted in the eighth round, 241st overall, by the
Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...
in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.


Playing career


Amateur

Wideman grew up playing his
minor ice hockey Minor ice hockey or minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body c ...
in his hometown of Elmira,
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, playing for the Woolwich Township Wildcats "B" of the OMHA's Tri-County League and the Guelph Reps AAA Bantams of the OMHA's South Central AAA League in 1997–98. He played in the 1997
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament The Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament () is an annual minor ice hockey event in Quebec City. The tournament was founded in 1960 to coincide with the Quebec Winter Carnival, and give an opportunity for international competition to p ...
with Guelph. Wideman spent the 1998–99 season with the
Elmira Sugar Kings The Elmira Sugar Kings are a junior hockey, junior ice hockey team based in Elmira, Ontario, Elmira, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. History The Elmira Juniors played at the Juni ...
of the
Mid-Western Junior Hockey League The Mid-Western Junior Hockey League (MWJHL) was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1973 until 2007. In 2007, the league became a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior ...
(MWJHL), scoring 18 goals and 48 points in 47 games. He was then drafted by the
Sudbury Wolves The Sudbury Wolves are an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) ice hockey team based in Greater Sudbury, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Sudbury has had various hockey teams competing at the Junior ice hockey, junior and senior ice hockey levels of the game k ...
of the
Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; ) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League, alongside the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The league is for players ag ...
(OHL). Wideman began his
junior ice hockey Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from ...
career with the Wolves in the 1999–2000 season. In his rookie season in Sudbury, he had ten goals and 36 points in 63 games. He then added three points in 12 games in the playoffs. Wideman began 2000–01 in Sudbury, scoring seven goals and 18 points in 25 games before being traded to the
London Knights The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. The Knights started out in 1965 as the London Nationals but changed to their ...
. Wideman finished the 2000–01 season with London, earning eight goals and 16 points in 24 games with the Knights. In the playoffs, Wideman had four assists in five games. He exploded offensively in the 2001–02 season, scoring 27 goals and 69 points in 65 games with London, while registering 141 penalty minutes. In 12 playoff games, Wideman had four goals and 13 points. He had another solid offensive season in 2002–03, as Wideman had 20 goals and 47 points in 55 games. He then added six goals and 12 points in 13 playoff games Wideman returned to London as an over-ager in 2003–04, and had another very solid season. He scored 24 goals and had 65 points in 60 games, while posting a +52 rating. In 15 playoff games, Wideman scored seven goals and 17 points to finish his junior career.


Professional


St. Louis Blues

Wideman signed as a free agent with the
St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
on June 30, 2004. He played his first professional season with the
Worcester IceCats The Worcester IceCats were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the Worcester Centrum (Renamed to the DCU Center in 2004). In 2005 the team was renamed the Peoria Rivermen and ...
of the
American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
(AHL) in 2004–05. In 79 games with Worcester, Wideman had 13 goals and 43 points. He then began the 2005–06 season with Blues' new affiliate, the
Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen is the name of four minor league hockey clubs: *Peoria Rivermen (IHL), named as such 1984–1996, formerly the Peoria Prancers 1982–1984 *Peoria Rivermen (ECHL), 1996–2005 *Peoria Rivermen (AHL), 2005–2013 *Peoria Rivermen (SP ...
, also of the AHL, scoring two goals and six points in 12 games. Wideman was then called up to the NHL and appeared in 67 games with the Blues in 2005–06, scoring eight goals and 24 points. In 2006–07, Wideman made the Blues out of training camp, and in 55 games, he scored five goals and 22 points. On February 27, 2007, the Blues traded Wideman to the
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
in exchange for forward
Brad Boyes Bradley Keith Boyes (born April 17, 1982) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey player, who spent thirteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of seven different teams. Boyes made his NHL debut in 2003 for t ...
.


Boston Bruins

Wideman with the Bruins Wideman finished the 2006–07 season with the Bruins, as he recorded three points in 20 games with the team. He broke out offensively in the 2007–08 season, scoring 13 goals and 36 points in 81 games, helping the Bruins return to the
Stanley Cup playoffs The Stanley Cup playoffs () is the annual elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, and the league champion of the National Hockey League (NHL). The four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held after the NHL's regular s ...
. On December 31, 2007, he scored a memorable goal at 4:40 of the second period against
Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL sea ...
goaltender
Kari Lehtonen Kari Lehtonen (born November 16, 1983) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Thrashers and Dallas Stars. He was selected second overall in the 2002 NHL E ...
during a
power play "Power play" is a sporting term used to describe a period of play where one team has a numerical advantage in players, usually due to a rule violation by the opposing team. Temporary numerical advantage in players during a team sport In several ...
— it was the 18,000th goal in Bruins history. In the 2008 playoffs, Wideman had three assists in six games. In 2008–09, Wideman once again had a very solid offensive season, scoring 13 goals and 50 points in 79 games to tie
Zdeno Chára Zdeno Chára (; born 18 March 1977) is a Slovak former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played 24 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Washington Capitals between 1997 a ...
for most points by a defenceman on the team. Wideman also finished sixth in the NHL with a +32 rating. In 11 2009 playoff games, Wideman had seven assists. He struggled in the 2009–10 season, however, scoring only six goals and 30 points in 76 games. Despite his lower regular season point production, he had a very strong offensive 2010 playoff performance, scoring a goal and 12 points in 13 games. On June 22, 2010, the Bruins traded Wideman, their first-round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and their third-round pick in
2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...
to the
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
in exchange for Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell.


Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals

Wideman had a solid offensive season with the Panthers in
2010–11 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...
, as he scored nine goals and 33 points in 61 games. The Panthers traded Wideman to the
Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
for Jake Hauswirth and the Capitals' third-round draft pick in 2011. At the time of the trade, Wideman was second on the Panthers' scoring list. On December 9, 2011, Wideman was initially credited with the first
hat-trick A hat-trick or hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three. Origin The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three Wick ...
in his career in a 4–2 victory over the
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
. The following day, however, the play was reviewed and his third goal was officially credited to teammate
Brooks Laich Evan Brooks Laich (; born June 23, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward. He played over 750 National Hockey League (NHL) games across four teams: the Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple ...
, with Wideman receiving the primary assist. Despite the change, the game remained the first four-point performance of his career.


Calgary Flames

At the conclusion of the 2011–12 season, as a pending unrestricted free agent, Wideman's rights were traded to the
Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...
on June 27, 2012, in exchange for
Jordan Henry Jordan Henry (born February 11, 1986) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Playing career Henry began his career playing for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League, WHL for two seasons from 2003 to 200 ...
and a fifth-round draft pick. Wideman was then immediately signed to a five-year, $26.25 million contract with the Flames. Wideman recorded six goals and 16 assists during the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, his first with the Flames. For the 2013-14 season, Wideman switched from jersey number 26 to 6, following the trade of Cory Sarich, who had previously worn the number, to the
Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
. During the season, Wideman missed 36 games with various injuries, and saw his goal total drop two to 4 and his point total drop one to 21. The Flames also struggled, finishing in 27th place and missing the playoffs for the fifth year in a row. Wideman started off slowly in 2014-15, and was made a healthy scratch by coach Bob Hartley in just the second game of the year; however, he quickly heated up and recorded a phenomenal season, setting career highs in goals, assists, and points. He finished tied for sixth among all defensemen in goals, with 15, and finished fourth in points by a defenseman, with 56. He formed a dynamic pairing with
Kris Russell Kris Russell (born May 2, 1987) is a Canadians, Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played in the , for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was original ...
, and they helped lead the Flames back to the playoffs for the first time since
2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...
. Once there, Wideman led all Flames defenders in points, recording seven assists in eleven playoff games. In the opening round, Calgary dispatched the
Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
in six games before falling in five to the
Anaheim Ducks The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confere ...
in the semi-finals. Expected to continue his torrid pace into the 2015-16 season, Wideman instead struggled through the opening months of the year. He took 33 games to record his first goal, and only recorded one more for the duration of the season. 33 games into the previous season, Wideman had already recorded 9 goals. However, his poor play was overshadowed by a controversial play in January in which he violently collided with linesman Don Henderson, for which he was initially suspended twenty games. The incident made headlines internationally and a lawsuit filed by Henderson remains unsettled. Upon returning from his suspension, Wideman promptly injured his triceps three games later in a game against the
Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
on March 16, 2016, ending his season. Wideman failed to record a point in his last ten games of a disappointing, hectic year in which the Flames missed the playoffs. Looking to put the previous season behind him, Wideman entered the 2016-17 season with something to prove. Entering the final year of his five-year deal, Wideman was to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Under new coach
Glen Gulutzan Glen Gulutzan (born August 12, 1971) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oilers. Playing career Gulutzan played junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and ...
, he began the year on a pairing with T.J. Brodie, but was quickly shuffled onto the third pairing in favour of fellow right-hand shot Deryk Engelland. Wideman struggled through the season, only posting five goals and 18 points through 57 games, before being benched for much of the latter part of the year after the Flames acquired Michael Stone from Arizona. The Flames qualified for the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, this time as the first Western Conference wildcard; however, Wideman did not play in any of the Flames' four playoff games.


Referee altercation

On January 27, 2016, Wideman struck linesman
Don Henderson Donald Francis Henderson (10 November 1931 – 22 June 1997) was an English actor. He was known for playing both "tough guy" roles and authority figures, and is remembered for his portrayal of detective George Bulman between 1976 and 1987 in ...
from behind in a game between the Flames and
Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...
. Video footage showed Wideman getting body checked along the boards by the Predators'
Miikka Salomaki Miikka is a Finnish name of the following people: *Miikka Anttila (born 1972), Finnish rally co-driver * Miikka Ilo (born 1982), Finnish footballer *Miikka Kiprusoff Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff (; born October 26, 1976), nicknamed "Kipper", is a Fi ...
and getting up slowly. As he skated to the bench, he cross-checked the linesman across his back. Henderson was injured by the hit and left the game. Following the game, Wideman claimed the check was unintentional and that he did not see Henderson until the last moment. Henderson suffered a
concussion A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a head injury that temporarily affects brain functioning. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, difficulty with thinking and concentration, sleep disturbances, a brief ...
as a result of the collision and would miss the remainder of the
2015–16 NHL season The 2015–16 NHL season was the 99th season of operation (98th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). Thirty teams competed in 82-game regular season schedules from October 7, 2015 to April 10, 2016. The 2016 Stanley Cup playoff ...
. It was later revealed that Wideman had also suffered a concussion on the Salomaki body check and refused treatment by the Flames' training staff, in violation of the NHL's mandatory head injury protocols. Wideman was suspended indefinitely the next day, pending a hearing after the
All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...
break. On February 3, he was handed a 20-game suspension without pay for the incident, the minimum sanction for deliberately striking an on-ice official under NHL Rule 40.2. Wideman also forfeited $564,516.18 in salary. While the NHL acknowledged that Wideman had been injured, it took the line that any possible disorientation Wideman suffered did not excuse the attack on Henderson. The suspension was immediately appealed to NHL Commissioner
Gary Bettman Gary Bruce Bettman (born June 2, 1952) is an American sports executive who serves as the NHL commissioner, commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL), a post he has held since February 1, 1993. Previously, Bettman was a senior vice preside ...
, who upheld the initial ruling, saying that a lengthy ban was merited given "the severity of the conduct involved." Bettman was also angered by Wideman's lack of remorse, citing a text Wideman sent to a teammate in which he blamed the furor over the hit on "the stupid refs and the stupid media." The
National Hockey League Players' Association The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA, ) is the trade union, labour union for the group of professional List of NHL players, hockey players who are under Standard Player Contracts to the 32 member clubs in the National Hockey ...
then appealed Wideman's suspension to a neutral arbitrator—the first time that this procedure had been used since the adoption of the renewed collective bargaining agreement. On March 11, arbitrator James Oldham concluded Wideman's attack on Henderson was not intentional and that he should have been penalized under Rule 40.3, thus reducing the penalty to 10 games. Wideman had already served 19 games at the time of the ruling but was refunded half of his forfeited salary. On April 20, 2017 the
CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...
reported that Henderson was suing both Wideman and the Calgary Flames for
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$10.25 million as a result of the injuries sustained from the hit. On March 2, 2018, the Court of Queen's Bench in Calgary dismissed the lawsuit, reasoning that the dispute should be settled through the NHL's arbitration process.


Post-playing career

After the conclusion of the 2016–17 season, Wideman was an unsigned free agent over the summer and into the following 2017–18 season. On November 23, 2017, he concluded his professional playing career after 13 years by accepting an assistant coaching role with the major junior team
Kitchener Rangers The Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. The Rangers have won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL ...
of the OHL.


Career statistics


Regular season and playoffs


International


See also

* 2015–16 NHL suspensions and fines


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wideman, Dennis 1983 births Boston Bruins players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Buffalo Sabres draft picks Calgary Flames players Canadian ice hockey defencemen Florida Panthers players Living people London Knights players People from Woolwich, Ontario Peoria Rivermen (AHL) players St. Louis Blues players Ice hockey people from Kitchener, Ontario Sudbury Wolves players Washington Capitals players Worcester IceCats players 21st-century Canadian sportsmen