Simon draws 30-game ban

New York Islanders forward Chris Simon was hit with a 30-game suspension Wednesday, breaking the mark of 25 he set in March with a ban that stretched into this season.

Simon, on a leave of absence from the team after a Saturday night dust-up with Pittsburgh’s Jarkko Ruutu, will miss more than a third of the season and can’t return until Feb. 21 against Tampa Bay.

With 5:54 left in New York’s 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday, Simon drew a match penalty when he pulled out Ruutu’s leg with his, sending the forward to his knees between the benches. Simon then stomped on the skate of Ruutu, who wasn’t seriously injured. Simon was ejected and the Islanders were a man short for all but the final 54 seconds of the loss.

On March 11, Simon was suspended 25 games for his two-handed stick attack to the face of Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg.

Simon will forfeit $292,683, the league said. As a repeat offender, his salary is docked based on games missed as opposed to days in the season.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Craig Adams was suspended two games without pay for hitting Toronto’s Alex Steen with his stick. . . . Minnesota sophomore forward Kyle Okposo is leaving college to sign with the New York Islanders, the school announced.