Chris Simon dead, former Islanders and Rangers tough guy was 52
Chris Simon of the Islanders skates to the bench against the Penguins on Feb. 19, 2007, at Nassau Coliseum. Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Jim McIsaac
Former Islanders and Rangers forward Chris Simon, among the more rugged players of his era, passed away on Monday at the age of 52.
“The New York Islanders offer their condolences to the family and friends of former Islanders forward, Chris Simon,” the team said in a statement on Tuesday shortly after Simon’s death was reported. “He epitomized what it means to be an Islander, someone who wore his heart on his sleeve both on the ice and in the community.”
Simon, from Wawa, Ontario, played for seven franchises across 15 NHL seasons before finishing his playing career as a two-time All Star in five seasons in the Russian KHL. He played 65 games for the Rangers in 2003-04 and 95 games for the Islanders from 2006-08.
Simon also won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996 as a teammate of current Islanders coach Patrick Roy, the Hall of Fame goalie. He reached the Cup Final in 1998 with the Capitals and in 2004 with the Flames and also played for Chicago and the Wild.
In all, Simon had 144 goals, 161 assists and 1,824 penalty minutes in 782 NHL games.
“The Rangers’ organization joins the hockey world in mourning the loss of (Rangers) alum Chris Simon,” the team said in a statement. “We send our deepest condolences to Chris’ family and friends during this difficult time.”
The Rangers' Chris Simon celebrates his second-period goal against the Islanders on Feb. 26, 2004, at Nassau Coliseum. Credit: AP/Ed Betz
No cause of death was immediately announced.
“The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Chris Simon,” the league said in a statement, describing him as “a fierce competitor and teammate.”
Simon also was suspended eight times during his NHL career, including two of the longer bans in league history, both while with the Islanders. He was banned 25 games for hitting the Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg in the face with a two-handed chop of his stick on March 25, 2007 and then got a 30-game suspension for stepping on the leg of the Penguins’ Jarkko Ruutu on Dec. 15, 2007.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
