The New York Islanders’ Chris Simon was suspended for the remainder of the hockey season as well as the entire Stanley Cup playoffs after his slashing attack on the Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg last Thursday. The suspension could mean Simon is out a minimum of 25 games, which would be one of the lengthiest suspensions in NHL history.
The league determined that Simon attempted to deliberately injure Hollweg after Hollweg checked him into the boards. Hollweg needed several stitches to close a gash on his chin but did return to practice on Friday.
Simon was contrite with his apologies to Hollweg, his team, the league and fans, saying, “What you saw Thursday is not the person, player and competitor that I am.”
That’s an interesting comment, considering that this is the sixth time Simon has been suspended, five times for “violent acts on the ice,” and once for uttering racial slurs against an opponent, according to Reuters.
Considering Simon’s history, I think the NHL’s suspension is too lenient. Why not ban him from the sport altogether and let him be an example for other players? How much is the NHL willing to tolerate? The NHL does not need goons like Simon; what it needs is a stricter policy against player brutality.
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