Chris Wideman, selected by the Ottawa Senators as a fourth-round pick (100th overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft, had to wait until the 2015-16 season to make his NHL debut. He spent three years in the AHL with the Binghamton Senators, where he was named an alternate captain for his final two seasons and also played five games in the ECHL.
During his time with Ottawa, Wideman played 175 games over four seasons, accumulating 43 points. He was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in November of the 2018-19 season after being involved in the Uber taping incident, which featured him and several teammates criticizing an assistant coach and discussing their special teams’ struggles. A month later, he was traded again to the Florida Panthers and briefly joined the Pittsburgh Penguins organization that same season. Before the 2019-20 season, he signed with the Anaheim Ducks as a free agent and spent the entire year with their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.
After failing to secure a contract for the next season, Wideman signed a one-year deal with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL, where he scored 41 points in 59 games. His performance attracted the attention of the Montreal Canadiens, and upon joining them, he recorded 27 points in his first season, which earned him a two-year contract extension.
Chris Wideman played only one of the two seasons he was signed for due to ongoing back issues. During his time with the Canadiens, he participated in 110 games and collected 33 points. Upon signing his two-year extension, he embraced the role of mentor for the younger defensemen, willingly accepting the position of the seventh defenseman on the team.
When the Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky with the first overall pick in the 2022 draft, Wideman generously offered his number 20 to the rookie and switched to number six, which had been left vacant by Shea Weber’s retirement.
Wideman’s retirement announcement was expected, as he did not play at all last season. In a statement released yesterday, he said, “After careful consideration, I have decided that it is best for my health and my family to retire from professional hockey. I made multiple attempts at rehabilitation and various treatments, but it ultimately became clear that returning to the sport I love would not be feasible.” He also expressed gratitude towards Geoff and Kate Molson for giving him a second chance in the NHL and acknowledged Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes, and Martin St. Louis for supporting his career in Montreal.
Wideman was well-liked in the Canadiens’ locker room and was known as a supportive teammate during his time in Montreal.
Message spécial 📬
For you, @Chris_Wideman pic.twitter.com/y9IUxZyoCm
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 17, 2024
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