Value of: Brendan Smith to Calgary

[Kilted Yaksmen]

Bertuzzi owned up to what he did.

Wideman has put the blame on a concussion and the refs/media.

Also, refs control the game. Do you really think they're going to give Wideman a fair shake now?

The ones with integrity and character will forget all about it. I suppose there might be a few who don't care if they tarnish the games they call over something that happened months ago.

I'm kind of thinking that the child refs got that out of their system when they put CGY on the PK at 2.5x their normal rate for a few weeks after the incident. The amount of phantom calls during that span was hilarious, they were clearly punishing the Flames for something a player did for a period of time. I don't think they have the attention span to carry it on much longer though.

 

[InfinityIggy]

Wow, really? Middle pairing for Smith?

Have fun

Probably a fair point, but he is likely better defensively than Wideman and better than: Engelland, Jokkipakka, Wotherspoon. Whom are our other choices for that spot.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

Wow, really? Middle pairing for Smith?

Have fun

He would be fine there, As long as he's paired with a solid shutdown guy. But yeah even in Detroit as of now he's our #6 guy.

 

[Fear]

Probably should just wait until UFA, I don't see any way Smith stays is Detroit

 

[FissionFire]

Wideman's been in trouble once in an 11 year NHL career, if someone paints him as a bad guy due to a single incident they aren't thinking rationally.

Bertuzzi had a clean record before the Moore incident, has that let him off the hook in people's minds or defined him to many fans? Same will happen with Wideman no matter what else he does or has done he will forever be defined by that single incident in the minds of most fans. Wouldn't shock me to see him go through a long legal battle as well if the ref sues him if he can never ref again a la Moore with Bertuzzi. Wideman is just a headache for any team to take in from a PR and distractions standpoint.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

Bertuzzi had a clean record before the Moore incident, has that let him off the hook in people's minds or defined him to many fans? Same will happen with Wideman no matter what else he does or has done he will forever be defined by that single incident in the minds of most fans. Wouldn't shock me to see him go through a long legal battle as well if the ref sues him if he can never ref again a la Moore with Bertuzzi. Wideman is just a headache for any team to take in from a PR and distractions standpoint.

Not only that his production dropped. And his salary is huge for what he brings.

Also, he fits in well with the rest of the defense, old and overpaid.

 

[Henkka]

Probably should just wait until UFA, I don't see any way Smith stays is Detroit

He won't stay but now is a chance to get him year before with very cheap price. 4th rounder is kind of nothing.

Some teams are throwing 4th rounders just for negotiation rights.

 

[BondraTime]

He won't stay but now is a chance to get him year before with very cheap price. 4th rounder is kind of nothing.

Some teams are throwing 4th rounders just for negotiation rights.

Yeah, but not for bottom pairing/healthy scratches.

For guys like Yandle and Goligoski.

 

[Lunatik]

The guy insulted the entire refs union and made up a medical reason for attacking a linesman.

Whichever team Wideman is playing for is surely not going to be getting the good end of the calls. And justly so. As a Flames fan, I hope the refs come down hard on the Flames for putting up with Wideman's BS.

The union reportedly was threatening to no call games if Wideman wasn't punished to the fullest extent, he had every right to be pissed off at that. And he didn't make up anything, he was diagnosed with a concussion and doctors used legitimate medical data in his defense. That is a significant difference from "making it up". Referees holding grudges and calling penalties that aren't there against him would end up putting their own jobs at risk.

Bertuzzi had a clean record before the Moore incident, has that let him off the hook in people's minds or defined him to many fans? Same will happen with Wideman no matter what else he does or has done he will forever be defined by that single incident in the minds of most fans. Wouldn't shock me to see him go through a long legal battle as well if the ref sues him if he can never ref again a la Moore with Bertuzzi. Wideman is just a headache for any team to take in from a PR and distractions standpoint.

Bertuzzi stalked a player who had a bounty put on his head, punch him from behind and drove him into the ice. Kind of a different situation that pushing an official on purpose or not.