THE STORY
On December 15, 2007, during a game between the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Islanders forward Chris Simon intentionally stepped on the back of Penguins forward Jarkko Ruutu's leg with his skate blade. This act resulted in Simon receiving a 30-game suspension, the longest in NHL history at that time. The incident was widely condemned for its dangerous nature.
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
NHL teams and players
WHY IT MATTERS
The incident highlighted the NHL's commitment to player safety and led to the longest suspension for an on-ice incident in league history at that time, emphasizing the severity of such actions.