How is it fair that Simon gets 25, and Bertuzzi got 18?

Question

Bertuzzi has ended Steve Moore's Career with his Suck punch, he was only out 18 games.

I'm not saying Simon was in the right but it wasn't worse than that

Answer 1

Bertuzzi lucked out cuz of the lockout season. Or else he should of sat out more.

Answer 2

I think there are several possibilities on this one.

1. Bertuzzi punched Moore in the head, vicious as it was, it was still his hand. Simon used his stick, and therefore a weapon. The same logic that would be used to decide what type of assault someone was charged with.

2. The length of Bertuzzi's suspension probably would have included more games if not for the lockout. He was blacklisted from all hockey for over a year. Even if the NHL had played, he may have been sitting out that entire season.

3. The most likely reason for Simon's lengthier suspension is the due the public reaction to the Bertuzzi situation. People felt that he had not been punished enough, but the NHL couldn't change what they had done. The only option they has was to try to rectify the situation the next time something similar happened.

In no way am I defending Simon's actions, but if I had to play that many games against Hollweg, I may have been tempted to do the same. As a Pens fan, I have seen him in 6 games this season and in every one of them I have watched him deliver borderline dirty hits. He headhunts, leaves his feet, and waits until people turn their backs before hitting them into the boards. Maybe the refs could have saved him from this fate by putting him into the box a little more often.

Answer 3

Not a whole lot about either situation is entirely fair, but I would consider a couple of things:

1. Bertuzzi was also suspended during the entire lockout year, which meant he was unable to play in Russia, Europe or the AHL like everyone else. He was prevented from earning his income for a year on top of the games for which he was officially suspended.

2. Sucker punching as a much more common offense than a stick in the face and generally less likely to result in serious injury. If the goal of suspensions is to deter future behavior along the same lines, the NHL is probably a safer place if intentional slashes to the face are prevented than sucker punches.

While it is true that Bertuzzi injured his victim far more severely, it is pure luck that Simon does not have a very grave injury weighing on his conscience.

Answer 4

Just remember that Bertuzzi was actually suspended for a calander year. This barred him from all levels of hockey, national or international. The lockout just limited his suspension. In truth, any type of stick foul like that deserves a long suspension. In comparison to other sports, this suspension was servere. In the NFL, Albert Haynesworth was suspended for 5 games, or a little over 1/4 of the season. In the NBA, Carmelo Anthony was suspended for 15 games, or just under 1/5 of the season. In the baseball, players are suspended for less than 1/25 of the season for what happens on the field. Was what Simon did worse than what Bertuzzi did? If you look at the results, no. If you look at intentions, it's worse. Think of that stick being 2 inches lower, Holliweg would have had his windpipe crushed.

Answer 5

Cut the NHL some slack. Bertuzzi's hit was vicious and likely deserved more than what he got, but that was then, this is now.

Simon has five prevoious suspensions, three for stick-related infractions and hits to the head. That too has to be considered. The NHL is under a ton of pressure right now about hits to the head after the Chris Neil hit on Chris Drury, the late hit by Cam Janssens on Tomas Kaberle, and now this hit. Simon himself agrees that what he did was disgusting and deserves a stiff penalty.

I would have given him the rest of the regular season, and five playoff games (and if the Isles were swept or did not make the playoffs, then five games to start the regular season) so my penalty would have been only slightly less harsh than what was handed out.

Yet more evidence that the NHL should get rid of the stupid instigator rule and let guys settle things on the ice with their gloves off rather than with their sticks.

Answer 6

For the NHL to send an effective message, it is good that Simon got a stiffer penalty than Bertuzzi.

It would also be good if the NEXT incident of this magnitude got an even stiffer penalty than the Simon incident. Keep escalating the penalties until the stickwork goes away.

Just like in 'real' society, if people know what the penalty is going to be, they basically, subconsciously, ask themselves if the potential penalty is worth the offense they are about to commit. And, just like crime in the 'real world', there are some people who still choose to break rules because the potential penalty is worth it to them.

As an analogy, how often have similar incidents happened in football or baseball in the last 10 years? Why? Because those sports do not allow it. The 'society' of hockey has still not made the penalty high enough to not be worth committing the act.

Do we blame Simon and Bertuzzi? Of course we do. Can we blame the NHL for allowing it to happen? You bet we can.

Answer 7

well back in the day's before a was born and the 70's, 80's and early 90's the NHL was better ratings then the NBA and it was full of bench clearing brawls in the 70's and 80's and the fans where coming its all the little rule changes that are making it harder to attract the new fans and they need better commentators in the US teams cause they are just terrible. i remember when FOX started to televised the game, they had an ex NFL commentator talking about the game he him self didn't understand and since he didn't like the fights he would put it down and the new fans that where trying to watch the game got that drilled in there head that fighting is no good for hockey. but it will always be apart of the game and when the NHL was at the top of the world all this stuff happened even back then with stick swinging but the NHL was in a better place then it is today so that's why there trying to find something to blame the problem on. and its clear the problem was in the 90's with all the expansion teams and it just spread out the talent around the league and its something big today if a team can score over 300 goals for the season compare to when the teams where scoring in the 400 in the 80's.

GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 8

Bertuzzi set the benchmark. The next offender should expect a bigger penalty. Chris Simon has a history, even more so than Bertuzzi did.

Too, the NHL wants to look good for NYC.

Answer 9

Bertuzzi was not as bad as Simon. Yes, Moore broke his neck, but Bertuzzi did not break it. Bertuzzi just sucker punched him. I agree, it was wrong. However, Moore hurt his neck by falling awkwardly on it. Bertuzzi did not mean to break his neck. Simon intended to hurt that Ranger.

Answer 10

Bertuzzi got off lightly.

Simon should be suspended for the rest of the season and playoffs.