Former NHL Player Chris Simon Dead at 52

A former Stanley Cup champion is gone, and far too soon.

Chris Simon, a former first-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1990, has passed away.

He was only 52 years old.

Gone Too Soon

According to reports, Simon died at his home in Wawa, Ontario, Canada, on Monday.

No cause of death was posted in the announcement.

Joe Sakic, now the Colorado Avalanche team president, where Simon won his Stanley Cup, stated, "Chris was a great guy, a beloved teammate and an important part of our first championship season.

"He was a really good hockey player who could score goals, was a big presence in the dressing room and was the first person to stand up and defend his teammates. Off the ice, he was an unbelievable guy and a caring father, son, brother and friend. He will be sorely missed."

The NHL added, "The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Chris Simon, who played in more than 800 NHL games over 15 seasons.

"A fierce competitor and teammate, Simon won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996 and reached the 1998 Stanley Cup Final with Washington as well as the 2004 Stanley Cup Final with Calgary."

Simon, who played with eight NHL teams before he finished his career in the KHL, was more known for his fists and brutality on the ice than his playing skills.

During his entire career, including pre- and post-NHL, he only amassed 392 points in 1032 games.

However, he also had 1,824 penalty minutes, which, if you are not a hockey fan, was excessive, even during those days of the league. But it made him a fan favorite on every team he played with because they knew Simon would not allow the team's star players to get pushed around.

Other than his fists, the two things he is known most for in the NHL are winning the Cup with the Avalanche in 1996 and being part of the blockbuster Eric Lindros trade between the Flyers and the Quebec Nordiques.

Simon was suspended eight times by the NHL, missing a total of 65 games, with a style of play that would not be tolerated in today’s game… in other words, it was when hockey was REALLY hockey.

Rest in peace, sir.