[blueandwhite]

I think that's a really interesting idea-that these suspensions aren't doing anything, that the players on the ice may find better results.
I would like to think that Simon is one of a kind - that there are few - maybe none - like him working in the NHL. He acts out of a sickness, it seems - for all bertuzzi did, we know bertuzzi won't do it again. That was a horrible rash action that he constantly regrets.
We don't know that about Simon - if anything, we know he will hurt again.
We do need to have some rules, some lines that are crossed and so you are suspended. I think Simon should be kicked out of pro hockey because I think his violent tendencies are more than just a player getting out of hand - he needs psychological help.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

I can't help but feel one team, out of all of them, will probably pick him up when the isles dump him.

Why? If he was producing, it would be one thing. But he's old, slow and isn't worth the headache. Any team can bring up someone who can stand in front of the net.

[blueandwhite]

I don't know why someone would want him, but there always seems to be a team that is hard up enough to buy a player like him.

[blueandwhite]

Don Cherry has opened his big mouth again and said that he thinks Simon was within his rights to do what he did.
from thestar.com:
Cherry said on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada that he "understands" why Simon stomped on Pittsburgh Penguin Jarkko Ruutu's leg during a game last weekend. The incident led to Simon's 30-game suspension last Wednesday, the longest in NHL history for an on-ice incident.
"He broke the code, you never do anything like that, but you can understand it somehow," said Cherry.
"The last two incidents that he's done, he's got 55 games. You know how many games his victims missed? None. I'm not making excuses for it, but none."...
"If Chris wanted to hurt him, he could have hurt him bad," said Cherry.

Cherry is relentless. can somebody tell me what inspired Simon to do this to Ruutu? Was there some difference of opinion between the two prior to Simon doing this?

also:
Cherry also weighed in on whether there were racial implications to Simon's suspension. Co-host Ron MacLean brought up comments made by Islanders coach Ted Nolan, who, like Simon, is Ojibwa. Nolan said last year that racism has kept him out of NHL coaching jobs...
On Thursday, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations said NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell should apologize to Simon for mistakenly suggesting he receive drug and alcohol treatment following his suspension...
A league spokesman said Campbell was actually referring to the NHL's substance abuse and behavioural health program, which is providing Simon with counselling for behaviour management.

[ThePundit]

Against the Devils Saturday night:

Instead of the usual snoozer against the Devils, a raucous sellout crowd of 16,234 was treated to a fight card along with a smashmouth hockey game. It began with a rare lightweight battle between Islanders top-line center Mike Comrie and Mike Mottau midway through the first period with the Islanders ahead 1-0 after a shorthanded goal by defenseman Chris Campoli. The diminutive Comrie more than held his own.

The bouts escalated in the second period to a middleweight battle between Islanders captain Bill Guerin and David Clarkson that was fairly even. Just four seconds later, a heavyweight encounter between 6-5 giants Andy Sutton and Michael Rupp broke out. It was a rousing affair in which both landed heavy punches.

"With teams seeing that Chris Simon's not in our lineup anymore, they come in and try to push us around," coach Ted Nolan said. "Those days are over. These guys have a lot of pride. A lot of guys stood up. I thought our team played a very gutsy performance.

Dubielewicz leads Islanders over Devils -- Newsday.com

See. Other people are stepping up...Hope the Isles can take care of the Canes, tonight.....

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL....