An interesting twist to the Dennis Wideman suspension saga was revealed Friday, after the Calgary Flames defenseman's suspension for making contact with linesman Don Henderson was reduced to 10 games from 20.

After Wideman's initial appeal of the suspension was upheld by the NHL, it was revealed by the league that Wideman sent a text message to an unnamed person after he met with executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell on Feb. 2. The text message read: "(The) only problem and the only reason I'm here is (because of) the stupid refs and stupid media."

According to the neutral arbitrator's ruling, the message was sent to Columbus Blue Jackets forward Gregory Campbell - the son of Colin, who made the initial 20-game suspension ruling.

Commissioner Gary Bettman cited the message as proof that Wideman did not accept responsibility for his actions, and the suspension remained at 20 games. Until Friday.

It was originally presented to the media that Wideman sent the text message in question to a teammate, but he and Campbell have never played together in the NHL. They were, however, traded for each other in June 2010, when the Florida Panthers traded Campbell and Nathan Horton to the Boston Bruins for Wideman and a first-round draft pick.

As TSN's Frank Seravalli notes, the text message being sent to Gregory Campbell, who was called a "teammate" of Wideman, raises some important - and intriguing - questions.

Bettman's decision was a sophisticated legal document. Including that text message "to a teammate" raises a lot of questions.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 11, 2016

Of them: Did Bettman not expect Oldham to reveal the text was to Gregory Campbell? Was "to a teammate" designed to protect the Campbells?

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 11, 2016

Did Gregory Campbell alert his father, and thus NHL executives, about the text message? Or did the NHL discover it during investigation?

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 11, 2016

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NEW YORK, N.Y. - An independent arbitrator has reduced Dennis Wideman's suspension from 20 games to 10 based on the determination that the Calgary Flames defenceman did not intend to injure linesman Don Henderson. In an 18-page ruling Friday,...

The NHL is not pleased.

After a neutral arbitrator reduced Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman's suspension for making contact with an official from 20 games to 10, the league released a strongly worded statement disagreeing with the ruling.

We are in receipt of Arbitrator James Oldham’s Opinion in the appeal of Dennis Wideman’s supplementary discipline suspension and reducing the suspension from 20 to 10 games. We strenuously disagree with the Arbitrator’s ruling and are reviewing the Opinion in detail to determine what next steps may be appropriate. We will have no further comment until we have completed our review. In light of and in response to Arbitrator Oldham’s Opinion, Mr. Wideman will be reinstated and will be eligible to participate in his team’s games, effective immediately.

The Flames host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday at home. Wideman, as noted above, will be available to play, although Calgary has yet to make an announcement on his status.

As evidenced by the statement, this saga may not be over. The NHL could appeal the arbitrator's decision through federal court, according to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos.

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TORONTO - Dennis Wideman's 20-game suspension for physically abusing an official has been reduced to 10 games by an independent arbitrator. The National Hockey League Players' Association requested an appeal after commissioner Gary Bettman up...

A neutral arbitrator has reduced Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman's suspension for making contact with an official from 20 games to 10, according to multiple reports.

The incident occurred on Jan. 27, when Wideman, on his way to the Flames' bench after taking a big hit, collided with linesman Don Henderson. The collision appeared to have been made with intent, and Henderson reportedly suffered a concussion as a result.

Arbitrator James Oldham wrote in his ruling:

The Commissioner’s basic conclusion - that Wideman’s on-ice behavior resulting in Linesman Henderson’s concussion constituted physical abuse of an official calling for Supplemental Discipline for on-ice conduct - was correct. Also, the Commissioner’s use of League Rule 40 (“Physical Abuse of Officials”) as a framework for analysis was appropriate. The Commissioner’s conclusion, however, that Wideman’s behavior constituted intentional action within the meaning of Rule 40.2, automatically triggering a penalty of not less than twenty games, is not endorsed in this appeal because, in my opinion, that conclusion is not substantially supported by the totality of the evidence presented to me at the NDA hearing. In my judgment, the proper penalty should have been that specified in League Rule 40.3. Taking into account Wideman’s eleven years of discipline-free performance as a professional hockey player, there is no occasion to go beyond the ten game minimum specified in Rule 40.3. Dennis Wideman’s penalty, therefore, should be reduced from twenty games to ten games, and it is so ordered.

Wideman said the incident was completely unintentional, and apologized to Henderson. He's already missed 19 games during the appeal process, and Friday's decision will save him over $280,000 in salary, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

#NHLPA requested in hearing with arb. Oldham on Feb. 26 to allow Wideman to keep playing while appeal was being decided; #NHL declined.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 11, 2016

On Feb. 17, Gary Bettman announced the suspension would be upheld after the league reviewed the incident and the NHL commissioner met with Wideman. Bettman said Wideman refused to accept responsibility for his actions, citing a text message Wideman sent to a teammate in which he blamed the fallout from the incident on "stupid refs and stupid media."

Wideman's under contract for another season at a salary of $6 million, and a cap number of $5.25 million. He'll turn 33 on March 20.

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The Chicago Blackhawks will welcome a key piece of their puzzle back the lineup Friday.

Winger Marian Hossa will play against the Dallas Stars after being out since Feb. 13 with a leg injury, the team announced.

Hossa was hurt on a big hip check from Anaheim defenseman Hampus Lindholm and flying awkwardly into the boards.

The 37-year-old has 10 goals and 18 assists in 54 games this season.

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The Arizona Coyotes aren't giving up on Jarred Tinordi.

The defenseman, who was handed a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, is set to become a restricted free agent at season's end and could still have a future with the up-and-coming organization.

"He’s still a young player with lots of upside," general manager Don Maloney said, according to Sarah McLellan of azcentral. "So we’ll address Jarred’s situation with us at the end of the season.

"It’s a tough break for him, but he’s responsible for what he puts in (his body)," Maloney added. "He understands it. He knows it. He’s taking responsibility, and we’ll support him and hopefully we’ll deal with him in the offseason."

The 24-year-old - drafted 22nd overall in 2010 - signed a one-year, $850,500 contract in the offseason with Montreal and has six assists in 53 career games.

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TORONTO - Rinat Valiev could become the ninth different player to make his NHL debut for the Maple Leafs this season. Valiev was recalled from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis Friday morning, replacing TJ Brennan, who played fo...

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