Simon added that he was diagnosed Friday with a concussion as a result of Hollweg’s hit that drove him into the boards. His inability to fly made it necessary for Campbell to come to New York for the hearing instead of holding it in Toronto.

Simon was given a match penalty for deliberate attempt to injure when he got up from ice after being crunched by Hollweg against the boards. Simon took a few strides toward Hollweg, and caught him with a two-handed swing of his stick that connected on the chin and neck.

Hollweg took a few stitches in the chin, but was not seriously hurt. He was in the lineup Saturday for the Rangers’ loss at Pittsburgh, and again on Sunday versus Carolina.

“Whether it’s appropriate or not isn’t for me to judge,” Rangers coach Tom Renney said Sunday. “It’s one of those things everyone will have a reaction to. The two things for me that are most important are that Ryan is OK and able to play, and Chris, for me anyway, is a good man.

“He’s had to pay the price, and that’s appropriate. I think it needs to be a message that’s loud and clear, of course. We all have to move forward and learn what we can from it.”

Simon has been suspended four other times for violent on-ice acts, and received a three-game ban in 1997 after directing a racial slur toward player Mike Grier, who is black.

Brashear, one of the NHL’s toughest fighters, said problems escalate when players cross the line.

SN'S KARA YORIO ON THE NHL Nolan best behind bench Coach of year award would be special for Islander boss

“I know what type of guy Chris is, and he’s an honest guy. I saw the hit he took, and he lost control a little bit too much, and that’s what it’s all about,” Brashear, now with the Washington Capitals, said after Saturday night’s 5-2 loss to the Islanders. “That’s where it gets dangerous.

“A guy loses control, and you don’t know what’s going to happen. We try to stay away from those, and I’m sure after it happened, he looked at himself and said, ’What the hell am I doing?’ It looked like he meant to do something else. Sometimes, guys have to pay the price, and I guess he’s going to be one of them.”

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