The NHL just suspended Chris Simon for 30 games (link) for his senseless attack on Jarkko Ruutu (video). For some reason, they've touted this as a step in the right direction as its the longest suspension in league history. Does anybody else find this air of accomplishment absolutely ridiculous? This is an 8-time offender we're talking about. He literally just came off serving a 25-game suspension for a similarly disgusting cheapshot (video) on Hollweg and immediately came out and did something worse. Am I actually supposed to believe that adding 5 more games will really change anything? Simon's clearly got some problem controlling his aggression and I got to believe that he'd have been banned if he played in any other competently run league. I also believe this reflects a larger problem with the league. Coming out of the lockout, they showed a commitment to cleaning up the unnecessary clutching/grabbing and allowing the game to be determined by skill and athleticism as opposed to size and aggression. And it worked for a while, as the ice opened up, scoring increased, and the quality of play improved. But I think there's still a prevailing sentiment among the higher ups that hockey's main selling point is violence and aggression. And I think the lenient punishments and lax attitude over the last couple seasons has allowed that eye-for-an-eye, thug mentality to creep back into the game. Already this season, we've a couple cheapshots by Philadelphia players that have been barely punished at all. It's really a shame, in my opinion, because the game doesn't need to be a spectacle to be entertaining.
Ill tell you I have never seen a worse act then what Simon did to Hollweg. Of course IM biased because I am a rangers fan lol, but that Ruuttu thing isn;t bad in the actual act but its FRICKIN Chris Simon. This guy shouldn't even be playing in the league after that one. Sure he's a goon and that his "job" but theres a way to be a smart goon. Simon is now the dirtiest player in the NHL! Its a shame too I actually enjoyed watching him play as a ranger, he is tough and will fight but he'll also score one for you once in awhile. This dude is worse then Bertuzzi because at least Bertuzzi has cleaned up his act since. I would have gone 1 year, without pay.
