Wideman text to teammate blamed hearing on 'stupid refs and stupid media'
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he was "troubled" by Dennis Wideman's "total failure to accept any responsibility for his actions" in a written ruling Wednesday upholding the 20-game suspension assessed to the Calgary Flames defenseman.
Related: NHL upholds Dennis Wideman's 20-game suspension
Bettman cited a text message Wideman sent to a teammate following his hearing with executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell on Feb. 2.
Wideman sent text msg to teammate on Feb. 2: "(t)he only problem and the only reason I'm here is cause the stupid refs and stupid media."
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 17, 2016
The 32-year-old was assessed the 20-game suspension on Feb. 3 for cross-checking linesman Don Henderson in a late January game. Wideman appealed the supplemental discipline at a hearing in New York on Feb. 10.
The NHLPA will file for independent arbitration, which would be a first under the most recent CBA, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.