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Wideman text to teammate blamed hearing on 'stupid refs and stupid media'

Rob Leifeiht / Reuters

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he was "troubled" by Dennis Wideman's "total failure to accept any responsibility for his actions" in a written ruling Wednesday upholding the 20-game suspension assessed to the Calgary Flames defenseman.

Related: NHL upholds Dennis Wideman's 20-game suspension

Bettman cited a text message Wideman sent to a teammate following his hearing with executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell on Feb. 2.

The 32-year-old was assessed the 20-game suspension on Feb. 3 for cross-checking linesman Don Henderson in a late January game. Wideman appealed the supplemental discipline at a hearing in New York on Feb. 10.

The NHLPA will file for independent arbitration, which would be a first under the most recent CBA, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

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