Chris Simon's suspension- too long? Too short?Or just right?

Question

On the one hand,look at his history,on the other hand,hitting another player happens weekly in hockey.

Answer 1

Too long.....we are now looking at a suspension longer then Bertuzzi's, for an incident that the NHL is partially to blame for. If the NHL had focused on the safety aspects of the game this year, instead of the insane notion that the fan wants to see more scoring, then this incident would never have happened.

The NHL has its officials focusing on little hooks and tugs that are not a danger to the player and barely cause any change to the game play, but touch your stick to a player in the crease and you'll be in the box for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, boarding, kneeing, charging and goalie interference are way up and the calls are not coming. Hollweg boarded Simon (Simon's back was to Hollweg, he was 2 feet away from the boards, and Hollweg checked him face first into the boards....that's boarding), Simon gets up and sees that NO official is doing anything about it, and retaliates for the dangerous hit. Emery from Ottawa did the same thing after being run constantly by players who are not in danger of any punishment for taking out a goalie.

Yes, Simon deserved between 10-15 games for a high stick that the main force hit Hollwegs chest and the glance then hit his chin (causing a few stitches) but a larger suspension then Bertuzzi nearly killing a guy (oh wait, Bert was a top-line player and Simon isn't...)? If the NHL and its officials had done their job, the play would have been blown dead, Hollweg would have got his 2 (possibly 5) for boarding and the incident....never would have happened!!

Answer 2

Too short. It was a definite criminal act, and there is no reason why the situation should not be considered a crime. Hitting happens in hockey, it's part of the game. Another part of the game is taking a hit. If Chris Simon is going to take that much exception to the fact he was hit hard into the boards, then, what he did could be classified as assault. Another aspect of the game is fighting. If you don't like what he did, drop the gloves and go toe to toe, but don't intentionally hurt another player with a deadly weapon.

25 games is too short. I would say, he should never be allowed to play in the NHL again. This has to stop happening. The only way to make it stop, is to eliminate the people who display this behavior. These are grown men and professionals, there is no room for deliberate, viscious acts towards an opposing player. If you have a problem, drop the gloves like a man, and don't potentially kill someone.

Answer 3

Hitting happens weekly? Not a hockey fan are you? This ISN'T about hitting, it is about hitting WITH A STICK AS A WEAPON. Anyway I think the punishment was fair. He is suspended for the rest of the season(including playoffs) or for 25 games, whichever is longer. Hey did it after he was thrown into the boards from behind. The player he went after is an aggrevator and couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Holliwig was already playing again on Saturday so no long term injury in it. Yet you need that long punishment to tell the players they CAN'T use sticks as a weapon. He should have dropped the stick and gone and punched the guy in the face.

Answer 4

Swinging at another player's face with a stick does not happen every week. That is what happened with Simon. He did not hit Hollweg, he swung at him. BIG difference.

At first I thought the suspension was too long until I found out he has been suspended six other times so apparently he hasn't gotten the message yet.

So I think the suspension should have been for a lot longer only because of his other suspensions.

Answer 5

Too short. So was Todd Bertuzzi's cheap shop on Steve Moore when Moore was playing for the Avs. Bertuzzi grabs you, and forces your neck into the ground, he deserved atleast 40 games, criminal charges, or should of been forced to retire. Simon should get 1 full season of suspension, starting now, ending next season, because you don't EVER take a two-handed swing at someone's head. I don't care what the other person does, you NEVER put both hands on your stick and swing full force at someone's neck. This was a total cheap shot, and much worse than my home team's Chris Drury when he got hit late by Chris Neil.

Answer 6

If you look at the individual, without comparing the incident to other incidents, he got what he deserved. He has been suspended 3 times for stick violations. I think that the league should go one step further and make him petition for entrance back into the league when his suspension is up. A repeat offender for a stick foul is a danger, and for those that say Hollweg wasn't injured that bad, ok, but let's say the stick landed 3 inches higher or lower, crushing his windpipe, or fracturing his nose or orbital bone...would people then be calling for Simon to be banned for life? Look at the intent, not the result.

Answer 7

too long if you look at what Bertuzzi got for breaking a guy's neck and hitting from behind and at least Simon faced his opponent and I am glad he is in a civil lawsuit with the man he assaulted because to me he was doing with full intnt on causing injury and the man never played again(Bertuzzi we are talking about)
On the other hand, it could be just right and I hope it would send a message that clean hits are acceptable but avoid high sticks to the face because there is no reason that the stick needs to be there since the puck is on the ice.

Answer 8

I agree with another answerer that 40 games would be a more suitable form of punishment. Getting 'only' 25 games does not send a strong message. Simon deliberately swung his stick right onto Hollweg.

Answer 9

His suspension was right should be for the season. He should be able to return to the league. For the people saying assault good luck having that hold up in court he had a concussion he couldn't even make the trip to Toronto they had to fly to him. Good luck New York getting that fly he was upset about the hit he took and since he wasn't in his right mind swung his stick at his chin only causing him what a few stitches where as a concussion is much more dangerous.

Answer 10

Using the NHL track record, the penalty was just right. However, using common sense as a guideline, a minimum of 40 games would be needed to send a sobering message to the guilty party, the rest of the league and a mainstream media which covers only this one ugly dimension of the sport.