Just when you thought it was safe for your kids to watch an Islanders game, Chris Simon strikes again.
This time, he didn't use his stick, his elbow, his knee or his fists....nope...this time he used his skate blade.
Of course, when I first read about this my mind wandered to the classic line from "Happy Gilmore": <>
Now, Simon did not seemingly try to stab Jarkko Ruuttu, but he did try to inflict some kind of pain by stomping on Ruuttu's ankle with his own skate blade.
He also put his team in a bad spot, as the Islanders trailed by 1 goal when they suddenly found themselves down a man for 5 minutes because of Simon's silliness.
So before anyone tries the "he's always been a solid team player" defence, think about the selfishness of the incident. Simon certainly did not think about his teamates when he caused to be shorthanded for 5 minutes.
And before anyone tries the "but he's a good guy" defence, don't we often hear people say similar things about some of the more notorious criminals throughout history. (Not that Simon is a criminal, at least not outside the game)
So the question, I think, becomes how long before the NHL says enough is enough and bans Chris Simon for life? Will such a thing ever happen? Probably not. And it such for a variety of reasons:
1) No serious injury has resulted from the action (at least not at the time of the writing of this blog)
2) The "victim" was Jarkko Ruuttu and the old boys in hockey love to blame the victim
3) He's a good guy and the old boys never really punish good guys (though I guess the optics of the swinging of a stick to Ryan Hollweg's head were just too strong for
the cigar chomping club members to let off scott-free)
4) We'll be told that hockey is a game played at lightning speed and players can't always make sound judgement-based decisions at the drop of a hat (Ignoring, of
course, the fact that this all happened between the teams' benches, during a stoppage of play)
It is more likely that the NHL will suspend Chris Simon for between 15 and 20 games.
So what responsability does the NHL have towards it's fans or potential fans, especially kids, when it comes to incidents like these?
I suppose that depends on who you think should be teaching your kids right from wrong. I have long said that if you bring a kid into this world, then it is up to you to teach that child the do's and don'ts in life. Feel free to hold up poor conduct by Chris Simon as an example of terrible, reprehensible conduct. Just don't expect the NHL to necessarily back up your statement with major justice.
Do fans expect NHLers to be role models and the league to force the players to uphold a squeaky clean image of gladiators who play within the rules?
Do fans expect the league to be more strict with its supplemental discipline?
Do fans expect the league to have values that reflect those of society?
Those expectations might be a little lofty.
Maybe Chris Simon will get 10 games.
Maybe Chris Simon will get 20 games.
Maybe Chris Simon will get 40 games.
Maybe Chris Simon will simply be put on "notice". Like the Philadelphia Flyers.
Hey....there's a thought....force the Isles to trade Simon to the City of Brotherly Love. That way he'll really be under the microscope.
Funny....after the Hollweg stick-to-the-head thing, I figured Simon was already under the microscope. Now we wait and see if the NHL has it's lens in focus.
Join the Discussion:
»