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Former Calgary Flames forward Chris Simon has died.
The 52-year-old played 15 seasons in the NHL, was a key in-season acquisition by the Flames during the 2003-04 season and played in 16 playoff games as they made their magical run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Simon was a member of the Michipicoten First Nation, near Wawa, Ontario.
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Selected in the second round, 25th overall in the 1990 NHL Draft, Simon would go on to play 782 games with a handful of teams around the NHL. While he had a reputation for being one of the toughest guys on the ice, he had real offensive skill, too, scoring 144 goals and adding 161 assists during his long career.
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His stop in Calgary wasn’t long, but it was memorable and he was a fan-favourite at the Saddledome throughout his tenure.
He joined the Flames late in the 2003-04 season from the Rangers. He scored three goals and added two assists during the remaining 13 regular season games and then added five goals and two assists while providing always-needed grit in the playoff run that ended in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
After the NHL lockout saw the 2004-05 season cancelled, Simon stayed with the Flames for the next season, scoring eight goals and adding 14 assists in 72 games before joining the New York Islanders in free agency.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, many of Simon’s former teammates remembered him as a man whose off-ice demeanour was nothing like the tough-guy reputation he earned on it.
“Folks … sad day today,” wrote Mike Commodore, Simon’s teammate with the Flames on that run. “Chris Simon was definitely an intimidating guy on the ice … hell of a player as well … we spent a lot of time together during Flames 04 run since we were both living in the hotel… he couldn’t have been nicer to me. RIP Chris. You will be missed.”
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Gus Thorson, the Flames’ former equipment manager, remembered Simon in a similar way.
“Can’t believe this is true,” Thorson wrote. “Chris Simon was one of the best teammates and leaders I ever had the opportunity to be around. Tears when he left our team and a bear hug when he returned as an opponent. Rest in Peace Chris.”
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