Bad boys

I suppose when your name makes the headlines only because you tried to hurt someone, there's a really good chance that Santa won't be smiling at you. Just ask Chris Simon, the New York Islanders forward who recently got dope-slapped with a 30-game suspension.

It seems that Simon, fresh off a 25-game sidelining for two-handing the Rangers' Ryan Hollweg last season, didn't learn his lesson -- attempting to injure Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu by stepping on his skate. Pretty scary, in both instances.

Now, we all know hockey is a hard-hitting game. To some, myself included, there's little that's more exciting that a well-placed, legal hit that doesn't injure an opponent. However, Simon's recent actions, as well as those delivered by the other players listed, have no business in the game.

Let's hope that all players, not just Simon and the NHL's motley crew of thugs, goons and knuckle-draggers, get the message.

For the record, here are the results:

Question: Who's getting a lump of coal from Santa?

NYI's Chris Simon: 9 out of 14 votes cast (64.3 percent)
All of the above: 3 out of 14 (21.4 percent)
Philly's Randy Jones: 2 out of 14 (14.3 percent)
Philly's Jesse Boulerice: 0 votes
Phily's Steve Downie: 0 votes
Vancouver's Mattias Ohlund: 0 votes