New York Islanders forward Chris Simon was banned for 30 games on Wednesday, drawing the longest suspension in NHL history again.
Simon's latest infraction was stepping on Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu with his skate during a game last weekend.
"Several factors were considered in imposing the longest suspension in NHL history for an on-ice incident," league disciplinarian Colin Campbell said. "While it was fortunate there was no serious injury to Mr Ruutu as a result of Simon's action, the deliberate act of kicking an opponent with an exposed skate blade, especially where the opponent is in a vulnerable position, is and always has been a repugnant and totally unacceptable act in the game of hockey."
Simon missed the first five games of this season while completing a 25-game ban handed out in March. That was the previous record for an NHL suspension. This is the seventh time in Simon's career that he has been suspended.
The 35-year-old player went on a leave of absence on Monday to receive counseling, and then met with Campbell on Tuesday.
Simon agreed that he needed time away from hockey after he stomped on Ruutu during a 3-2 loss to the Penguins on Saturday.
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