Ryan Hollweg, best known for taking a Chris Simon cross-check to the face in 2007 that cost the latter a 25-game suspension, is on his way to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The left winger was shipped from the New York Rangers on Monday afternoon in return for a fifth-round pick in 2009. Toronto got that pick from Pittsburgh earlier this year as part of the Hal Gill trade to the Penguins.
A 25-year-old left winger, Hollweg scored two goals and two assists in 70 games as a fourth liner with the Broadway Blueshirts in 2007-08, adding 96 penalty minutes.
In 200 career games he has 12 points on five goals.
Raised in Downey, California, he won a Western Hockey League championship in 2004 with the Medicine Hat Tigers, and fills a need for toughness that Toronto general manager Cliff Fletcher recently indicated was a pressing concern for his rebuilding club.
On March 8, 2007, Hollweg checked Simon into the boards in a game at Long Island. The Islander tough guy got up, skated a few strides toward the Ranger and delivered a two-handed chop to the jaw with his stick.
Simon's suspension was the longest in NHL history.
He apologized afterwards, claiming he was "completely out of it" after Hollweg had checked him.
Hollweg told reporters he temporarily suffered a loss of hearing after getting cross checked in the chin, but he did not miss significant time.
Kelly Pavlik to fight Bernard Hopkins: promoter
Undefeated American middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik will next face one of boxing's best fighters over the past decade, Bernard Hopkins, according to his promoter.
Willie McGinest to play final season for Browns
Cleveland Browns linebacker Willie McGinest confirmed Thursday that the upcoming NFL season will be his last.
Spurs' Oberto treated for irregular heartbeat
San Antonio Spurs forward Fabricio Oberto will miss the first two games of the season following treatment for an irregular heartbeat.
Contact Us About Us HomeMonday, December 1st, 2008