Presentation of the state of UEMOA in 2023: Abdoulaye Diop before CIP-UEMOA deputies on March 21, 2024

“According to defenseman Mike Commodore, who was a teammate of Chris Simon’s in Calgary, Simon was undoubtedly a formidable presence on the ice. Commodore also praised Simon’s skills as a player, and shared that they had spent a lot of time together during the Flames’ 2004 season, as they were both staying in the same hotel. Commodore added that Simon had always been very kind to him. Rest in peace, Chris. You will be deeply missed.”

Simon has four children from his second wife, Valerie, whom he divorced in 2017.

Throughout his career, he sustained injuries that led to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, causing him to be unable to work as he coped with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and arthritis in his shoulder, hand, knees, back, and neck, as reported by the Ottawa Citizen.

The New York Islanders expressed their sympathies for the family and loved ones of former Islanders player, Chris Simon. The team shared on X that he truly embodied the spirit of being an Islander, showing genuine passion both on and off the ice.

Simon’s former colleagues and professional hockey players paid tribute to him on social media.

There is no definite explanation for the death.

After playing in the NHL for 15 years, the seasoned veteran became known as an aggressive player, participating in 101 fights and accumulating 1,824 penalty minutes over 782 games from 1992 to 2008. He also achieved a Stanley Cup victory with the Avalanche in 1996.

The Ottawa Citizen stated that, according to their report, Simon, who earned approximately million during his time in the NHL, had declared bankruptcy and was relying on social assistance and disability payments for survival.

He was suspended eight times, including two of the longest suspensions ever given in the NHL. The first suspension was for 25 games while he played for the Islanders, as he hit Rangers player Ryan Hollweg in the face with his stick on March 25, 2007. This suspension lasted two seasons. The second suspension was for 30 games after he stomped on Jarkko Ruutu’s leg in a game against the Penguins on December 15, 2007.
According to the NHL Alumni Association on Tuesday, Chris Simon, a former NHL player known for his brawling on the ice during his time with the Rangers and Islanders, passed away at the age of 52.