The long and disorganized Dennis Wideman saga is over.

The Calgary Flames defender will return to the lineup versus the Arizona Coyotes on Friday after an independent arbitrator reduced his 20-game ban for cross-checking an official by half.

With the disciplinary matter closed six weeks after the fact and a small victory earned (Wideman still missed 19 games), Flames president Brian Burke came to the defense of the team and its training staff in a brief press conference before the game.

"I believe (Calgary's medical personnel) acted properly at all times and in all respects through this process," Burke said.

"Our protocol was followed to the letter," he later added.

Burke said Wideman "did not fall through the cracks" in terms of the training staff's execution of the NHL-mandated concussion protocol because Wideman first complained of symptoms after the game, not during.

Wideman was hit by an opposing player moments before he collided with linesman Don Henderson, who suffered a concussion as a result. Wideman was later diagnosed with a concussion himself.

Burke also wished Henderson a speedy recovery.

The NHL said it "strenuously" disagreed with the neutral arbitrator's decision in a statement Friday, promising the league would be "reviewing the opinion in detail to determine what next steps may be appropriate."

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ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Blues have signed defenceman Carl Gunnarsson to a three-year, $8.7 million contract extension. The 29-year-old Gunnarsson has two goals, five assists and a plus-6 rating in 62 games this season. The team announced th...

The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Carl Gunnarsson to a three-year contract extension worth $8.7 million Friday, the club announced.

Gunnarsson's cap hit will be $2.9 million. It was $2.95 this year.

— Tom Timmermann (@tomtimm) March 11, 2016

Acquired by the Blues along with a draft pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Roman Polak in June 2014, Gunnarsson, 29, has two goals and five assists in 62 games. He's averaging 17:36 in ice time.

Gunnarsson was a seventh-round pick, 194th overall, by the Maple Leafs in 2007. He spent five seasons in Toronto and is in his second season with the Blues.

The Swedish defender has been a negative possession player for the majority of his career. He has a 48.4 percent Corsi For rating this season, up from his career 46.6 mark, according to Hockey Reference.

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The Washington Capitals are going through California on a road trip, and great things are happening.

By that, we mean Alex Ovechkin, "The Great Eight," and Wayne Gretzky, "The Great One," hung out. And they posed for a great (sorry) photo.

Tnx for gr8 time !!!u the best!!!!

A photo posted by Alexander Ovechkin (@aleksandrovechkinofficial) on Mar 10, 2016 at 11:24pm PST

Ovechkin - perfectly - used "gr8" in the caption.

While it wasn't the first time Ovechkin and Gretzky met, it was the first time they got to talk extensively, and they spoke about "hockey, life, all of the different things," Ovechkin said, according to The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan.

"It’s a great experience," Ovechkin said about hanging out with Gretzky and his wife, Janet. "I had a great time. When you’re a little kid, you have a dream to meet him and talk to him. Obviously, it was a great time."

Janet posted a photo on her Instagram account of what appears to have been a double date:

Fun night with Anastasiya and Alex

A photo posted by @janetgretzky on Mar 11, 2016 at 6:57am PST

A great double date, clearly.

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The San Jose Sharks' dull bellyaching about their SAP Center ice came to a head Thursday, and after a shutout loss to the New Jersey Devils, when it was suggested to coach Peter DeBoer that the team may need to simplify its approach.

"Maybe we fix the ice," DeBoer responded. "How about that?"

Swiftly, Sharks COO John Tortora has responded to the complaint, writing in an email to CSNCalifornia.com that steps are being made to improve the surface that the Sharks share with their American Hockey League outfit, the San Jose Barracuda.

"The increased rains the Bay Area has received this year, along with the humidity that comes with it, has made it more challenging to keep building conditions at an optimal level," Tortora wrote, according to CSN's Kevin Kurz.

"We made the decision to implement a supplemental dehumidification system, much earlier than we have in the past. The system is expected to be installed and online within the next two weeks."

And in time for the postseason. How about that?

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OTTAWA - After 68 games, the Ottawa Senators still aren't getting the message. Coming off an ugly 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday, the Senators found themselves talking — again — about the need to manage the game better. The l...

Gary Bettman is fed up with criticism of the NHL's new overtime.

In his speaking appearance at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, and the morning after Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask became the latest NHL player to critique the format, the NHL commissioner was a touch sour in his response to the idea that 3-on-3 is not "real hockey."

"Shut up. Don't complain," Bettman said, according to NESN's Nicholas W. Goss. "Why would you demean your own product?"

It's been a rough day for Bettman, who in addition to having his engagement picked apart online, saw his 20-game suspension levied to Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman chopped down to 10 by a neutral arbitrator.

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On the Fly, theScore's NHL roundtable series, continues. This week, we're freewheeling, diving into the Anaheim Ducks' Stanley Cup chances and an unrestricted free agent who gets no press - Brian Campbell.

Anaheim's Time

Ian McLaren: Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray deserves much credit for waiting out a seemingly disastrous start to the season and allowing head coach Bruce Boudreau to right the ship. After going 1-8-1 while scoring only 10 goals in 10 October games, the Ducks are now within striking distance of the Pacific Division lead and appear poised for a deep and successful playoff run.

Two numbers stick out as primary evidence to back that up. On one hand, the Ducks have a Corsi For rating of 53.2 at five-on-five, behind only Los Angeles and Dallas. Meanwhile, they sit dead last in shooting percentage at 5.88.

Add it up, and the Ducks are a high-end possession team at even strength that hasn't enjoyed the puck luck to make good on regularly out-attempting the opposition.

If that shooting percentage begins to creep up to league average, Anaheim could be the force to be reckoned with in the postseason.

The free agent no one talks about

Justin Cuthbert: What does a soon-to-be 37-year-old defenseman with an enduring game and more than $50 million in career earnings do in unrestricted free agency?

Anything he so chooses.

Barring an unexpected in-season contract agreement, Brian Campbell - who's not the most talked-about member of the Florida Panthers' ascendant blue line, but who's been earning his $7-million salary - will reach free agency with options aplenty.

Campbell would most certainly be welcomed back by the budget Panthers, though likely at a reduced rate. He could spring elsewhere for the largest long-term contract tabled to his management team. Or, he could satiate a market in need, say in Edmonton or Colorado.

But at his age, and having cashed in prior to the NHL salary squeeze, the most attractive option may be leaving millions on the table to chase a second Stanley Cup.

The most obvious and perhaps most likely championship destination is Chicago, the city where he met his wife and an organization that was forced to move his current contract after its first of three Cups this century.

Steven Stamkos will dominate headlines the summer, should his stalemate get that far. But based on what he chooses, Campbell could be the most impactful free-agent add in the short term.

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The Edmonton Oilers have activated center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins from injured reserve Friday, the club announced.

The 22-year-old hasn't played since sustaining a hand injury on Jan. 18. He has eight goals and 22 assists in 46 games - which are slightly disappointing numbers after back-to-back 56-point seasons and a career-high 24 goals last season.

Nugent-Hopkins was left off Team North America's initial 16-man roster for the coming World Cup of Hockey, but is a strong candidate to be added before the June 1 deadline.

Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli is the man in charge of Team North America, and Nugent-Hopkins' omission led to obvious speculation about the center's place on the Oilers, and how the decision would effect their relationship.

"These are hard decisions," Chairelli said. "At the end of the day, I'm a real big fan of Ryan's. He's got a real good two-way component to his game, he plays against the top centers and he has for a long time for a player of such a young age."

The Oilers are in action Saturday, home to the Arizona Coyotes, and Nugent-Hopkins - signed through 2019-20 at $6 million per season - should be on the ice.

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Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane will not face criminal charges following an investigation by the Erie County District Attorney's office in regards to a sexual encounter in late December.

A formal accusation was never filed, but an investigation began when a young woman sought medical treatment following an encounter with Kane, reports the Buffalo News.

"This investigation was the result of the Buffalo Police following automatic protocols that are in place. Those protocols were followed and there was never a criminal complaint filed," said acting District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr.

"After a careful and diligent examination of all the known facts, including the results of forensic and toxicological testing, neither the provable facts nor the applicable law support the filing of any criminal charges or a prosecution in this matter."

At the time, Kane maintained he had done nothing wrong, saying "I look forward to clearing my name (and) I respect the legal process."

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