December 17th

SIMON FACES MORE PUNISHMENT

Just two months after serving a 25-game suspension for a two-handed stick attack on Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg, the New York Islanders Chris Simon is facing punishment time again after receiving a match penalty for trying to step on Jarkko Rutu's foot.

Islanders coach Ted Nolan said he hadn't seen the replay and he wanted to review the incident. Simon declined to comment after the game.

All signs point to the veteran forward getting the seventh suspension of his career, and it could be another lengthy one considering his status as a repeat offender. He has been suspended five other times for on-ice incidents, including a three-game ban in 1997 after allegedly directing a racial slur toward player Mike Grier.


RUSSIAN TYCOON PLANNING RIVAL-NHL LEAGUE?

According to the Toronto Star, a Russian tycoon has hired former NHL Players's Association executive Bob Goodenow to help create a new professional European hockey league that would compete for players with the NHL.

Alex Medvedev, deputy executive of Russian energy giant Gazprom, is behind the new league, which also has former NHL star Igor Larionov on a "working group" to help start the league.

Larionov said Goodenow visited Russia this week to discuss the league, which could start as soon as September 2008. He also told the Star that sponsors and broadcasters have been contacted by Medvedev's representatives.

European teams often lose players under contract to the NHL, receiving $200,000 per player in exchange. It is unclear whether the prospective league would honour NHL contracts.


Be sure to log onto WWW.THESTITCH.US