Bizarre development involving a Canadiens defensemen: It would be officially over for fan favourite Chris Wideman
Does the name Chris Wideman ring a bell?
Yes, he's a defenseman still under contract with the Montreal Canadiens, from whom we have literally had no news for several months.
A most strange and unusual situation.
He hasn't played yet this year, and unlike a Paul Byron in the past, Wideman is non-existent in the club's entourage.
Let's just say it raises many questions because the last news we had of him dates back to September, at the Habs 2023 training camp.
In the last few hours, veteran journalist Stu Cowan has provided some clarification on this.
"The Canadiens probably told Wideman that he had a back injury (sarcastically) or they gave him the option to go play in Laval. They probably said: 'Do you want to play in Laval, have a back injury to stay close to the team, or even open a hair salon?'" - Stu Cowan
Let's just say it says a lot about what's going on behind the scenes.. It seems to be truly over between Wideman and the CH. Even though he was an extraordinary teammate for the youngsters, the organization has turned the page.
"With the regular injured list, we saw the example of Ryan Reaves, recently, in Toronto, who was on the injured list and said he had been healthy for two weeks. The injured list is just a doctor saying a player can't play, while for long-term, the player has to sign papers.
So, for Chris Wideman, he's spending the last year of his contract and he won't play. He's 34 years old and before the start of the season, the Habs decided he wouldn't play, whether his back hurt or not. He remains, however, a good guy to have around a team." - Stu Cowan That answers the question and it really looks like Wideman has played his very last game with the Montreal Canadiens.
Wideman, 34, has collected 78 points (20 goals) in 291 career NHL games. He had a 27-point season in 64 games with the CH, which is not bad!
Credit: GoNordiques
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