The effects of the Dennis Wideman incident are still very real for NHL linesman Don Henderson.
The official underwent neck surgery early in July to repair damage from the hit, and there's concern his on-ice career may be finished, according to Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe.
Henderson was knocked to the ice by the Calgary Flames defenseman in a game back on Jan. 27.
Wideman - who was later diagnosed with a concussion - was originally suspended 20 games, and the sentence was later reduced to 10 by a neutral arbitrator.
Henderson, meanwhile, was unable to return to the ice through the balance of the regular season.
"I know a lot of people are saying stuff like, 'Hey, Wideman’s not that type of guy . . . that’s not in his nature . . . he’s a good kid,'" a fellow official told Dupont. "And I say, 'Yeah, so what?!' That doesn’t make it any less egregious. He attacked him from behind, the puck was nowhere near the two of them, and now Henderson’s career may be finished."
The NHL has since filed a lawsuit against the Players' Association with a view to vacate the reduced suspension ruling.
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