chris simon

hockeyfights.com
Chris Simon is quite the enigma. His teammates and former teammates will vouch for what a good guy and teammate he can be, but once again, he’s at the root of an on-ice incident that will lead to a suspension.

While going back to the benches, Simon stepped on the back of Jarkko Ruutu‘s leg.
This is an easy 5-10 game suspension for any player, but with Simon’s history, it’ll most likely turn it into 10-15 games or even longer.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3hKeVb_G-PI

Another look...he got his ankle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2iWygvPnC4&feature=related

This is in a long line of Simon's bullshit plays...

He should be gone for the season...

Looked accidental to me.

Mike Floorsinger wrote:

Looked accidental to me.

To you...it would...

From the looks of it, Simon knows he's done for a while, so he's leaving the Isles. Personally, I think he should just retire. IMO, he's given the game of hockey a shiner...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ahx7KBsBLGEr5ENvXG19Lwh7vLYF?slug=ap-islanders-simon&prov=ap&type=lgns

Simon banned for 30 games
Longest suspension in NHL history
By THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO - Chris Simon has received the longest suspension in NHL history - again.

The New York Islanders forward was banned 30 games by league disciplinarian Colin Campbell after Simon stepped on Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu during a game over the weekend.

Based on his average annual pay, Simon forfeits US$292,683 in salary. He will be eligible to return Feb. 21 against Tampa Bay.

"Several factors were considered in imposing the longest suspension in NHL history for an on-ice incident," Campbell said in a statement. "While it was fortunate there was no serious injury to Mr. Ruutu as a result of Simon's action, the deliberate act of kicking an opponent with an exposed skate blade, especially where the opponent is in a vulnerable position, is and always has been a repugnant and totally unacceptable act in the game of hockey.

"In addition, while the act itself was extremely dangerous, the fact that this is the eighth incident requiring the imposition of supplementary discipline on Simon compelled me to impose a very severe penalty in this case."

Simon missed the first five games of this season while completing a 25-game ban handed out in March. That was the previous record for an NHL suspension.

The 35-year-old took a leave from the Islanders on Monday, agreeing with the team that he needed time away from hockey following his latest penalty for attempting to injure an opponent.

"Since Saturday night, the focus of the New York Islanders has been on Chris Simon the person, not him as a player or on his place in our lineup," Isles GM Garth Snow said in a statement Wednesday. "As we announced on Monday, the Islanders are going to provide Chris the time and support that he needs for counselling. For Chris right now, hockey must be secondary to the priority of taking care of himself.

"Chris has played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League, has won a Stanley Cup and just as importantly has won the respect of his teammates. He is an Islander, deserves our compassion, and we ask that all Islanders fans join us in supporting Chris every step of the way."

Late in New York's loss to the Penguins on Saturday, with the Islanders trailing 3-2, Simon drew a match penalty when he pulled out Ruutu's leg, sending the forward to his knees between the team benches. Simon then stepped on the back of Ruutu's leg with his skate.

Simon was ejected and the Islanders were a man short for all but the final 54 seconds of the loss.

"There is no excuse for my actions ... and I apologize to everyone involved," Simon said Monday in a statement. "The Islanders and I agree that the right thing to do is for me to take some time away from the team.

"I have enjoyed a long career achieving my dream of being a player in the National Hockey League and I'm proud of my accomplishments. But I acknowledge that time and assistance is needed before I return to the game."

Simon also apologized last season after he retaliated to a hit from Ryan Hollweg by striking the New York Rangers forward in the face and neck with a two-handed stick swing.

The forward was suspended for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs, forced to serve a minimum of 25 games. He missed the remaining 15 games before the post-season and sat out New York's five-game playoff loss to Buffalo.

The Islanders signed Simon to a one-year deal this summer for US$475,000 and included another $325,000 in potential bonuses.

"Chris is a good guy, he's a great teammate, he's a good friend who did something wrong," said Islanders captain Bill Guerin. "He just needs a little time and a little support from his family and friends and his teammates.

"He understands what he did, we all do. There'll be consequences, and that's not for us to decide, but we're here to support him and to make sure things get straightened out."

Simon had 10 goals and 17 assists in 67 games last season, but managed only one goal and two assists in 26 games this season. He has 51 penalty minutes.

Simon has been suspended five previous times for violent on-ice acts and received a three-game ban in 1997 after directing a racial slur toward player Mike Grier, who is black.

During the 2000 playoffs, Simon, then with Washington, sat out Game 2 after he cross-checked Penguins defenceman Peter Popovic across the throat in the opener.

In April 2001, Simon drew a two-game ban for elbowing Anders Eriksson of Florida. He was given a pair of two-game suspensions in 2004 - for cross-checking Tampa Bay's Ruslan Fedotenko and then jumping on him and punching him, and for kneeing Dallas defenceman Sergei Zubov. Fedotenko and Simon are now Islanders teammates.


Maybe this will get his attention...maybe not!

Another piece from ESPN on Simon's suspension...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3161119

While a lengthy suspension is certainly in order, 30 games? Is this really worse than Hunter-Turgeon, McSorley-Brashear, May-Heinze, Domi-Niedermayer, Niedermayer-Worrell, and Bertuzzi-Moore?

10-15 games, fine. 30 games, a record-long suspension in the league? Too much!

I think the length of the suspension has to take several things into account. Part of the punishment should be focused on the act itself, part of the punishment should be based on the harm it cause, part of the punishment should consider the circumstances surrounding the incident, and part of it should be based on the player's history.

I think all those things together make the 30 games reasonable.

If this were Simon's first, second, third, fourth, etc. suspension by the league - then I suspect we would have seen a much shorter suspension. Obviously the 25 games he got before for the two-handed swing to the face did not teach him the lesson that intentionally trying to injure another player is completely unacceptable in the NHL. Maybe the 30 games this time will teach him that. If not, the next suspension will undoubtedly be longer.

I think the fact that Rutuu was not seriously injured probably factored in this as well. Had he ended Rutuu's season or career, he probably would have gotten an even stiffer penalty.

I think another factor in this suspension is that this did not take place in the heat of battle and the flow of the game. Its not like this was some sort of snap reaction to a nasty hit or anything. It was a calm, calculated, intentional act to try and hurt another player as they were leaving the ice.

Given the setting of this incident, the nature of the act, and most importantly Simon's history - I think the suspension was probably just about perfect.

Time for him to go. The 'L's always looking for a few good thugs.

Considering his past history...he's lucky he didn't get shit-canned for good...

I personally expected15- 20 games, but I really can't argue with 30.I'm sure that Simon's several suspensions and especially the last one played into the decision. Face it, 2 intentional, flagrant, and potentially very dangerous acts in 2 seasons. No excuse.

Something else to consider-- the image of the sport itself. In a time where the NHL is struggling for TV dollars and trying to expand a fan base while competing against established sports, the league cannot afford to send a message that it will tolerate thuggery. As the only major sport that accepts fighting as a part of the game, the NHL must walk a tightrope. Sure people want to see a couple of tough guys square off, but nobody wants to see a blind side attack. The publicity surrounding McSorley/ Brashear and Bertuzzi/Moore was a huge black eye for hockey. The league cannot afford any more, and by handing out stiff penalties, sends tha message that the days of "Slap Shot" are over.

BRUINSFAN wrote:

Considering his past history...he's lucky he didn't get shit-canned for good...

He should've. Simon is clearly "The Dirtiest Player in the Game" maybe of all time.