Thankful Wideman maintains incident with linesman was 'completely accidental'

After a "chaotic" six-plus weeks and 19 games lost while in limbo, Dennis Wideman spoke for the final time about his now infamous Jan. 27 incident - and the since-reduced suspension - for cross-checking linesman Don Henderson.

And he stuck to his guns, of course.

"I'm happy that it was reduced to 10 games," Wideman said. "But I still maintain that it was completely accidental, and I had no intent on hitting Donny at all."

Wideman thanked the Flames, the club's staff, his coaches, teammates, and the NHLPA for support throughout. And though he acknowledged that it was "precedent-setting," he hopes that next time, the process will move along quicker.

Wideman will receive compensation for the needlessly lost time, but it will be impossible to repay both the player and organization the nine additional games he was forced to sit.