What’s in a name?

So, does Chris Simon have a point when he complains about being unfairly treated by the NHL’s disciplinarian? Is there indeed a double standard applied to star players?

Chris Pronger Suspensions

• 1995 - 4 games for slashing Pat Peake in the throat
• 1998 - 4 games for slashing Jeremy Roenick in the head
• *** 2000 Hart Trophy Winner (League MVP) ***
• 2001 - 1 game for leaving the bench to fight Kelly Buchberger
• 2002 - 2 games for cross-checking Brenden Morrow in the head
• 2004 - 1 game for kicking Ville Nieminen
• 2007 - 1 game for driving Tomas Holmstrom into the glass
• 2007 - 1 game for a headshot on Dean McCammond
• 2008 - 8 games for stomping on Ryan Kesler

Chris Simon Suspensions

• 1997 - 3 games for alleged racial slur towards Mike Grier
• 2000 - 1 game for cross-checking Peter Popovic in the throat
• 2001 - 2 games for elbowing Anders Eriksson
• 2004 - 2 games for cross checking and punching Ruslan Fedontenko
• 2004 - 2 games for kneeing Sergei Zubov
• 2007 - 25 games for a stick attack on Ryan Hollweg
• 2007 - 30 games for stomping Jarko Ruutu

I find it interesting that the five suspensions immediately following Pronger’s Hart Trophy win totaled six games missed, including a mere two games for a cross-check to the head, and a single game for kicking an opponent.The argument from the Colin Campbell has been that the context influences the punishment. Simon’s stomp on Ruutu happened after the play and away from the puck, while Pronger’s stomp on Kesler took place during a hockey play. Does that make Pronger’s act less severe than Simon’s? Not if you ask the NHL’s head office. My opinion, though, is that in the case of severe offenses like these, handing one repeat-offender a suspension more than three times longer than another repeat-offender does reek of double standard; 20-25 games would’ve been a more suitable punishment for Pronger.

But then again, Pronger’s a former Oiler, and Simon’s a former Flame, so maybe I’m just biased.