Dennis Wideman is waiting for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's decision when it comes to his appeal on a 20-game suspension the league handed the defenceman last week.

According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, Wednesday's hearing took over six hours and Bettman's ruling could take a few days.

According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, the NHLPA argued that it wasn't Wideman's intent to injure linesman Don Henderson and that Wideman had been concussed on a hit just prior by Nashville's Miikka Salomaki, making him not fully aware of what he was doing.

Bettman, Bill Daly, Colin Campbell, Kris King as well as vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom represented the NHL in the meeting while Wideman and general manager Brad Treliving were there for the Flames. The league also had its legal team present. Members of the NHLPA's league counsel, including Donald and Steve Fehr, as well as concussion experts for both sides attended the meeting in New York.

If the suspension is not reduced below six games, Wideman can appeal again to a neutral arbitrator. It would be the first time for a player to exercise this right under the current CBA.

The Flames defenceman was suspended 20 games last week for the Jan. 27 incident - the highest amount allowed by rule for physical abuse of officials.