The NHLPA has asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit the NHL brought against the union, or, in the alternative, to confirm the arbitration award reducing Flames D Dennis Wideman’s suspension. The NHL first filed a lawsuit against the NHLPA in New York federal court in June, seeking a court order to overturn the decision of a neutral arbitrator in the case of Wideman’s collision with an NHL linesman in January. The arbitrator, James Oldham, reduced the NHL’s suspension of Wideman from 20 to 10 games in March. The NHL filed the lawsuit against the NHLPA on June 8 and dismissed Oldham as the neutral disciplinary arbitrator on July 1. The NHLPA filed its response to the NHL’s lawsuit on Friday, saying in court papers that the civil action should be dismissed on a number of grounds. “This civil action is improper and any properly filed action would be barred by the relevant statute of limitations,” the NHLPA said in court papers. Additionally, the NHLPA argued the NHL provided no grounds for a judge to vacate Oldham’s award, and instead the court should confirm it. The case is being heard before U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan. The NHL declined to comment (Liz Mullen, Staff Writer).
DOING WHAT HE HAS TO DO: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman came under fire last week for comments he made in a court filing in which he denied a link between concussions and CTE. However, ESPN's Dan Le Batard said Bettman is doing "what anybody would do as commissioner." Le Batard: "It’s what anybody would do if they have a liability issue. You don't come out and admit when you're surrounded by the possibility of lawsuits that, ‘Yes, the science is absolutely exact and my sport has a concussion problem and is causing brain damage.’ Why would you admit that? He's doing what he has to do, which is cover for the league because the commissioner sometimes has to be a pinata in defense of the league” ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 7/29).
