Too much McSmokey on this one, Weedy. Shame too, I enjoy your posts. (suck up) I think the interesting thing here is that the NHL has imposed it's largest suspension in history for an action that didn't actually hurt the other player. That's a positive statement to me, the intent to injure was clearly there and a suspension or more is needed.. He could score and intimidate with the best of them in his heyday. Which day was that?
"Oh, I know! I think we should bring back the pillory, and tattoo his crimes on his forehead in Comic Sans for the world to see, and then we should rip his fingernails and scrotum off and present them to the family of the guy he stepped on. Then we should impale his head on a stick and serve his innards in a stew, and put the whole thing on PPV and sell the rights to charity." Sweet merciful christ. Yes, what he did was really not cool, and I don't know if anyone noticed, but no one in the history of the game has ever received a harsher penalty. (So much talk about retribution. They're on it, okay?) But the NHL has a collective bargaining agreement, weak as it is, that forbids a team from ripping up someone's contract without due process. (Unlike some other leagues I could mention - hey, whatever happened to Albert Haynesworth? Oh, right, he's not only still playing, he's in the Pro Bowl! Way to go, NFL! You sure showed him that stepping on another player doesn't pay!) Simon may or may not play again, but even if he does, he's never going to be able to escape the fact that he is (at least officially) the dirtiest player in the history of the game. Due process is happening, you guys. This medieval eye-for-an-eye Nancy Grace talk is revolting.
"The actions of Chris Simon on Saturday do not reflect what the New York Islanders stand for," Islanders owner Charles Wang said in a statement. Wang then went on to say, "Why, that'd be as ill-advised as signing a goalie to a 15-year, $67.5 million contract, or letting Grant Snow run your team!"
"Oh, I know! I think we should bring back the pillory, and tattoo his crimes on his forehead in Comic Sans for the world to see, and then we should rip his fingernails and scrotum off and present them to the family of the guy he stepped on. Then we should impale his head on a stick and serve his innards in a stew, and put the whole thing on PPV and sell the rights to charity." Please not Comic Sans. Maybe Bank Gothic? But I'm good with the rest.
Yes, what he did was really not cool, and I don't know if anyone noticed, but no one in the history of the game has ever received a harsher penalty. I noticed. I noticed the National Hockey League had yet another chance to stand up against criminal behavior in its workplace and again took the chicken-shit route. Thirty games -- who fucking cares how long the suspension is? You have indisputable video evidence that a person in the employ of your league attempted to take a sharpened piece of metal and apply it to another person in the employ of your league. That same person just served 25 games for smashing his stick into another player's face. If you were the NHL, for what earthly reason would you think, "Well, a 30-game suspension will straighten Simon out and we won't have to worry about him then!" Guess what, idiots -- you will have to worry about him again if you let him back on the ice, and I really, really hope Ruutu is considering a lawsuit against the NHL for not providing a safe work environment. I mean, they let this guy back into the league after he deliberately tried to injure someone ... and in short order, he did it again. How could Ruutu lose?
But the NHL has a collective bargaining agreement, weak as it is, that forbids a team from ripping up someone's contract without due process. Who said anything about ripping up his contract? You can simply cut him from the team. If he signs with another team, they can pay him to "play". If not, he sits for the rest of the season and keeps collecting a paycheque (after his suspension, of course). He is simply an embarrassment to the team and (at this point in his career) isn't able to contribute positively to a team (3 points in 26 games). He could score and intimidate with the best of them in his heyday. Which day was that? His biggest season was in 1999-2000 with the Washington Capitals. 29 goals, 20 assists for 49 points, which means he led the team in goals (!), and was 3rd on the team in points. I can't think of too many players in the past 30 years that led their team in goals AND PIM in the same season. (The guys behind BaseballReference.com need to build one for the NHL.)
Grum, you are correct about 1999-2000, but in 10 other seasons he had 10 goals or less. And in 5 of those he had 4 or less. Plus, in 1999-2000, he had Oates (2nd in NHL in assists with 56). Team stats here. Lot of playmakers on that team = Simon getting the puck on a silver platter. He, no doubt, had a career year in 1999-2000. But when I think Chris Simon, I don't think goal scorer. Weedy's post said "the best of them", but Chris Simon did not crack the top 35 in goals, even in his banner year. Intimidate, absolutely. No debate on that one.
Chris Simon career stats here. Sorry, meant to post above.
Weedy's post said "the best of them" No - I just meant he could score AND intimidate with the best of them. Should put a comma in there I guess. I wasn't claiming Chris Simon could score with the best of them. Good gracious no. But he played for as long as he did for a reason. That's all. He was a good player at his peak. That's all I meant. Geez, it sounds like he died.
Good gracious no. Whew! I thought you had some bad McSmokey.
There is always somebody you love to hate. That being said he's the guy.
Kick him out! Why wait 9 strikes? He struck out already in my view.
