Chris Wideman, a defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens, has retired from the NHL due to a back injury, ending a career that included collegiate success, a notable stint in the AHL, a challenging period in the NHL marked by a trade-heavy season and an off-ice controversy, followed by a resurgence in the KHL before his final seasons with injuries.
Simon-Olivier Lorange from The Press brings us news. Montreal Canadiens’ Chris Wideman is hanging up his skates for good.
The reason? A troublesome back injury. It’s kept him off the ice since the 2022-23 NHL season. A fact that’s nudged him towards retirement.
Wideman’s journey kicked off when he was picked 100th in the 2009 NHL Draft. His college years were at Miami University of Ohio, playing hockey. There, over 195 games, he netted 12 goals and racked up 95 points. His efforts helped push the team to two Frozen Fours and a national championship game.
Post-NCAA, Wideman moved on to the Binghampton Senators, the AHL affiliate of Ottawa. In three seasons, he played 208 games, scoring 30 goals and totaling 130 points.
His AHL success led to his NHL debut with Ottawa in the 2015-16 season. As a rookie, he scored six goals and earned 13 points over 64 games. The following year, he hit career highs with five goals and 17 points in 76 games.
But the next three years were rough. Wideman found himself traded three times during the 2018-19 season. He had stints with the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, ending the season in the AHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Then came the controversy. An off-ice incident in an Uber, where Wideman and teammates were caught criticizing their team. A public apology followed.
Seeking a fresh start, Wideman went overseas. He signed with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL. There, he shone brightly, scoring nine goals and 41 points in just 59 games.
This success caught the Canadiens’ eye. They offered Wideman a one-year, $750K contract. It paid off. Wideman scored four goals and 27 points in 63 games.
Sadly, injuries plagued his last years. Wideman played his final game over a year ago. He retires with 20 goals and 78 points across 219 NHL games. A career that’s seen highs and lows, but always driven by passion for the game.
