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Simon to play in Russia

Mon 19th, May 2008

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Minnesota Wild tough guy Chris Simon has signed with Russian hockey club Vityaz Podolsk Chekhov, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The move could end Simon's NHL career, which has been marred by a pair of ugly on-ice incidents.

The 36-year-old Simon joined the New York Islanders as a free agent for the 2006-07 season and vilified by two violent acts.

During a game against the New York Rangers in March of 2007, Simon was hit by Ryan Hollweg and retaliated by chopping Hollweg in the face with his stick. The penalty earned him a 25-game suspension, which carried over into the beginning of the 2007-08 season.

Simon returned for 26 games, only to be suspended an NHL-record 30 games for purposely stepping on the foot of Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu with his skate.

He was eventually dealt to Minnesota for a sixth-round draft pick and did not score in 10 regular-season games and two playoff contests for the Wild.

For his career, Simon has 144 goals, 161 assists and 1,824 penalty minutes in 782 NHL games.