cLeary Just a Gritty play By a Hard working Grinder trying To Help his Team

C’mon paul, Stop constantly Searching for Plays That make cooke Look like A Monster.  you Are so Biased

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 03/20/11 at 03:02 PM ET

I don’t care what the league does to him. The Penguins need to sit Cooke for the remainder of the season, and then trade him in the offseason. There’s a place for Cooke in this league. He’s a good player and very good penalty killer. He’s not a barbarian like Trevor Gillies. But Cooke’s also a moron. Just a stupid, careless, and reckless play. He played a big part in costing his team two points today to a much inferior Rangers team. I’ve had enough.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:03 PM ET

This elbow deserves a serious suspension. Let’s see what Mario Lemieux has to say now about suspensions and fines. If he stands pat with his proposals then good for him, but if he comes out with a full fledged defense of Cooke then we can just go ahead and ignore what one of, if not the greatest player ever says from now on.

There is simply no room for debate here, the intent was clearly to decapitate someone.

Posted by Hockey2219 on 03/20/11 at 03:04 PM ET

“There is simply no room for debate here”

That’s why even Penguins fans won’t be defending him this time, like cs6687 didn’t.  As a Penguins fan, I want to like him for what he can do, but it is what he does that just makes you sick.

Posted by fueledbyjake on 03/20/11 at 03:06 PM ET

Nobody with a brain can defend Cooke’s play today. With all the attention going to head shots, Cooke throws an elbow that would make Macho Man Randy Savage proud. I hope the Penguins suspend Cooke for the season.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:07 PM ET

Wow, what a surprise (shakes head). Will be even more surprised if he gets more than one or two games if any. The league could go a long way to eliminating concussions just by kicking this tool out of the game.

Posted by waynesnyder on 03/20/11 at 03:07 PM ET

Gillies had two incidences. Against the pens was awful, and against the Clutterbuck, which was a high hit and deserved a suspension, but was a reaction to Clutterbuck intentionally boarding one of the Islanders. Gillies sucks, sure, but Cooke is a a dirtier player in the NHL and that’s all there is too it.

Posted by Hockey2219 on 03/20/11 at 03:08 PM ET

As a Penguins’ fan, I am ashamed of the behaviour of Matt Cooke.

It’s time to get rid of him or nobody will be able to take them serious any more.

Posted by GermanJo on 03/20/11 at 03:08 PM ET

I don’t care what the league does to him. The Penguins need to sit Cooke for the remainder of the season, and then trade him in the offseason. There’s a place for Cooke in this league.

Why?  Why should the penguins sit him? 

Let’s see what Mario Lemieux has to say now about suspensions and fines.

Why would Mario say anything different than he already has said.  Mario said what he said after Cooke did what he did last time.  It not like Mario said something about head shots and then Cooke delivered a head shot afterwards. 

Cooke plays a game that is on the line and he crosses it sometimes.  This hit was one of the least dirty.  Yea, he deserves a couple games because of the repeat offender title, but it boils down to him being late to the body, and extending the elbow out to make contact after the player moved away.

Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 03/20/11 at 03:10 PM ET

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:03 PM ET

Well said, and that’s what’s so sad, he could be a very good player, and is the kind of guy you need to win in the playoffs.  Unfortunately he has no self-control or common sense.  All he has to do in these situations is separate the guy from the puck, not separate the guy from his head.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 03/20/11 at 03:11 PM ET

Why should the penguins sit him? 

Because in the midst of a tight game and a tight playoff race, Matt Cooke put himself before the team. He played a big part in the Penguins not just losing, but probably gaining at least one point in this game. The Penguins were in control of this game and Cooke makes a stupid play. That Penguins logo on the front of the jersey is the most important thing, and Cooke put himself above that today.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:14 PM ET

Cooke plays a game that is on the line and he crosses it sometimes.  This hit was one of the least dirty.  Yea, he deserves a couple games because of the repeat offender title, but it boils down to him being late to the body, and extending the elbow out to make contact after the player moved away.

Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 03/20/11 at 03:10 PM ET

Are you freaking serious?  He intentionally blindsided the guy in the head with an elbow.  The fact anyone would make an excuse for the hit is just sad.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 03/20/11 at 03:14 PM ET

Gretzky to Lemieux

More than a couple games, as a consistent offender this needs to be on the high end of suspensions.

Posted by Hockey2219 on 03/20/11 at 03:15 PM ET

The Penguins were in control of this game and Cooke makes a stupid play.

The penguins powerplay is what cost them the game.  Without capitalizing on the pp, there is really no chance in this league.  Plain and Simple.

Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 03/20/11 at 03:16 PM ET

Just because the power plays sucks doesn’t mean Cooke is absolved of a stupid play.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:18 PM ET

Are you freaking serious?  He intentionally blindsided the guy in the head with an elbow.  The fact anyone would make an excuse for the hit is just sad.

I am not trying to come across as a supporter of illegal hits, but lets not confuse terminology here.  This is not a blind side hit.  This was an elbow to the head from behind while trying to finish a check. 

I am not making excuses for him, i am saying it is not as bad a hit as many would argue.  I would equate this to the hit that Mike Green took his last game played.

Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 03/20/11 at 03:18 PM ET

Any word on Mario’s response to the elbow?  LOL
Cooke is a repeat offender.  20 games minimum and Dan Bylsma and the organization should be fined!!!  Tha NHL has to send a message to the Penguins.  They’re the dirtiest team in the league and Cooke shouldn’t have been in the lineup in the first place.  Bylsma is a wise guy.  He wanted to send a message to the Rangers by dressing Cooke,  it’s time to hold him responsible too!!!  No excuses!!!

Posted by RogerNYLA on 03/20/11 at 03:19 PM ET

Campbell needs to suspend Cooke for the year and Shero needs to send this jackwagon out west. I don’t care how good a penalty killer he is, I’ve more than had it with him.

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 03:19 PM ET

I don’t care if it was Matt Cooke or Datsyuk throwing that elbow. That type of play has no place in the game.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:19 PM ET

Just because the power plays sucks doesn’t mean Cooke is absolved of a stupid play.

I agree.  I am simply saying this is not what ‘turned the game’ as Eddie O would like to have everyone believe.

Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 03/20/11 at 03:20 PM ET

Just like an Alcoholic or a Drug Addict that that never hit rock Bottom & get to the Place where they are sick & Tired of Being Sick & Tired & I think cooke is the Same way he will never learn, Completely indefensible, Dirty & Stupid Penalty to take with the team tied 1-1 ! But lets not lose sight of the fact of the reason they lost is because they have a PP & PP Coach (Bylsma) who is absolutely %#%#ing Clueless. They had a chance to hire Barry Smith a bona fide PP guru & instead took his Butt Buddy former asst. coach Reirden & Bylsma took over the PP himself. & now us Pens fans see why he had no problem with Mike Yeo’s PP the past 2 seasons, because Yeo’s was better than his

Posted by Evilpens on 03/20/11 at 03:21 PM ET

@  gretzky_to_lemieux

if he’s on my team i take clappers at his head next practice.  you suspend him because his bonehead plays lose games and make your team look like a joke.  put down the drink and take off your penguins goggles and then take a look at the hit.  it’s just plain dirty.  you see guys miss hits all the time on the side boards and they don’t come up and clip the player in the face with the elbow.

i understand you want to support your team but come on…  there’s a point where you just have to say that he’s a scumbag.

Posted by pkkieffer on 03/20/11 at 03:22 PM ET

Cooke should get ten games maximum. Gillies second suspension is the precedent here. But I don’t care. I want the Penguins to sit him for the rest of the season.

If the league failed to send a message after the Islanders assault on the Penguins in February, there no going to do so here. Sorry, Roger.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:22 PM ET

Gillies had two incidences

Gillies’ minor league behavior eclipses any infraction by any current player not named Todd Bertuzzi, who never did anything out of line again.

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 03:22 PM ET

This is not a blind side hit.  This was an elbow to the head from behind while trying to finish a check. 

An elbow to the head from behind is blindside.  And to say the elbow was finishing a check is to say the elbow was an afterthought, which is wrong, the elbow was clearly the primary intent.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 03/20/11 at 03:22 PM ET

Gillies sucks, sure, but Cooke is a a dirtier player in the NHL and that’s all there is too it.

After Gillies slammed Tangradi’s head into the boards, he then began punching Tangradi in the back of the head while Tangradi laid face down on the ice.  From there, the refs pushed him out of the ice into the doorway where the ice crew exits the ice where Gillies decided to stay instead of head towards the dressing room.  From the doorway Gillies began taunting Tangradi as the medical crew helped Tangradi towards his feet.  Tangradi has still not played a single NHL game since this incident.

Are you sure you feel Cooke is a dirtier player than Gillies???

Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 03/20/11 at 03:25 PM ET

Gretzky to lemieux,

  You sound like Brian Burke.  Regardless of how severe the hit was, and I though it was VERY severe, it’s a pointless hit that needs to be taken out of the game.  When Crosby gets back into a game and gets a shot like that from some cooke-like player, will you be calm then too?  Please, stop embarrassing yourself.

Posted by fueledbyjake on 03/20/11 at 03:26 PM ET

Gillies makes Cooke look like a choir boy. But that’s not the issue.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:27 PM ET

RogerNYLA Is this MORON 12 or what ?

Posted by Evilpens on 03/20/11 at 03:27 PM ET

Please, stop embarrassing yourself.

I have not once said Cooke does not deserve to be suspended.  I am simply saying this is not as bad a hit as everyone is making it out to be.  Of course i would never want to see Crosby take a hit like this, nor any player.  But it is less severe a hit as other hits we have seen this year.

Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 03/20/11 at 03:30 PM ET

Sorry. This is the definition of a cheap shot. It’s every bit as bad as people are making it out to be.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:35 PM ET

I’ve had about enough of these stupid plays by Cooke.

He’s a good player and a great PKer…but enough is enough.  It’s got to be 10 games for him.  Anything less will be a joke.

Really sick of it.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 03/20/11 at 03:36 PM ET

The only thing I can guarantee is that the Rangers won’t be planning an all-out assault on the Penguins next season like that other joke team that plays in New York did back in February.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:37 PM ET

Cooke plays a game that is on the line and he crosses it sometimes.  This hit was one of the least dirty. 

Absolutely not.

This isn’t a reaction play or a situation where someone tried to draw a boarding penalty. Cooke lined the guy up at elbow length for no discernible reason at all. It’s not even like the Heatley business which is unallowable but, at least, somewhat understandable, considering the way the victim plays. Cooke just suckered McGuffin (or whatever his name was) in the jaw, on purpose, for no good reason.

In all likelihood this senseless play cost his team a game against a division rival and some poor shlub a mouthful of teeth and some brain cells.

Make an example, Colie. Nobody will object.

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 03:37 PM ET

Since we all think the NHL sucks at meting out discipline, and Lemieux has loudly come out against senseless hits to the head; wouldn’t it be something (and start to change the state game from the inside, setting a shining example of class for the rest of the league) if the organization decides to enforce their own in-house suspension of Cooke?

It obviously won’t happen, especially since Cooke does have some value as a contributor to a team looking to max their position in the playoffs, but just imagine what the world would be like.  Have a big press conference, pat yourselves on the back, and make the NHL look like a bunch of impotent fools in comparison.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 03/20/11 at 03:39 PM ET

Evilpens,

no I’m not 12.  12 year olds get personnel and use name calling when they don’t have an intelligent response.

Posted by RogerNYLA on 03/20/11 at 03:40 PM ET

I love the way Penguin fans are changing the subject and trying to make this and Islander issue.  So sad.  LOL

Posted by RogerNYLA on 03/20/11 at 03:42 PM ET

I wasn’t making this an Islanders issue. Nobody cares about the Islanders. Just decided to take a shot at that joke of an organization. Back to Cooke being an idiot…

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:44 PM ET

gretzky_to_lemieux makes a valid point about the way Campbell hands out suspensions, and I think that is precisely the failing of the league.  It does seem to matter to the league how badly the victim is hurt - and it shouldn’t.  The penalty for an elbow to the head (insert other any other subject for supplementary discipline) shouldn’t be subjective.  X games for first offense, Y games for second, Z games for third, etc.

If Cooke were on my team, I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t immediately put him on waivers.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 03/20/11 at 03:45 PM ET

MarkK, that’s an excellent point that I’m surprised I haven’t seen made yet.

After all, nobody is MAKING the Pens play Cooke, right?  I mean, if Mario is so, so soooooooo worried about the health of the NHL he could always have Cooke benched for the good of the game, right?

Instead of sending letters to Bettman, why doesn’t he send one to his own head coach and lead by example instead of complaining from his desk?

Posted by HockeyinHD on 03/20/11 at 03:49 PM ET

If Cooke were on my team, I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t immediately put him on waivers.

Not really realistic.

For one, I don’t think there are conventional waivers after the trade deadline. Even if there were, that would take up a post-trade-deadline roster move and you only get 4.

Bylsma blaming Cooke for the loss in the post-game presser.

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 03:50 PM ET

I wasn’t making this an Islanders issue. Nobody cares about the Islanders. Just decided to take a shot at that joke of an organization. Back to Cooke being an idiot…

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 03:44 PM ET

I think you just did bring up the Islanders again.  The Islanders have nothing to do with what Matt Cooke did today! 

You guys can’t seem to stay on subject.  I guess I should feel good about it.  The fact that the Islanders get under your skin makes me so proud of their organization.

I’m with you.  Let’s make this an Islander discussion.  LOL

Posted by RogerNYLA on 03/20/11 at 03:51 PM ET

I love the way Penguin fans are changing the subject and trying to make this and Islander issue.  So sad.  LOL

My discussion of Gillies was in response to the remark made above by Hockey2219.  As also mentioned above, no one cares about the Islanders.

Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 03/20/11 at 03:51 PM ET

no one cares about the Islanders.

Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 03/20/11 at 03:51 PM ET

I’ve actually forgotten that they’re a real life NHL franchise on at least a dozen occasions this season alone.

Maybe because they barely are one?

Bylsma blaming Cooke for the loss in the post-game presser.

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 03:50 PM ET

Good.  Tight game, looking to get at least a point with TBL nipping at their heels…and you pull a stupid stunt like that?  Have to be smarter.  Stupid, stupid, stupid play.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 03/20/11 at 03:55 PM ET

My discussion of Gillies was in response to the remark made above by Hockey2219.  As also mentioned above, no one cares about the Islanders.

Uh huh…Gillies is an Islander and obviously when you bring up the Islanders (saying no one cares about the Islanders) you’re in fact bringing up the Islanders.  This is like one of those Airplane movies.

Posted by RogerNYLA on 03/20/11 at 03:58 PM ET

Gillies had two incidences. Against the pens was awful, and against the Clutterbuck, which was a high hit and deserved a suspension, but was a reaction to Clutterbuck intentionally boarding one of the Islanders. Gillies sucks, sure, but Cooke is a a dirtier player in the NHL and that’s all there is too it.

Posted by Hockey2219 on 03/20/11 at 03:08 PM ET

Hey Roger…ask this guy if he’s a Penguins fan.  Because he’s the first one that brought up that neanderthal on skates.

Just go away.  You’re way worse than Evilpens.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 03/20/11 at 04:00 PM ET

I’ve actually forgotten that they’re a real life NHL franchise on at least a dozen occasions this season alone.

God, this is great!  Eating your insides up, huh?  LOL
The contempt says volumes, believe me!

Posted by RogerNYLA on 03/20/11 at 04:02 PM ET

UMMMM Where was the Blame for his Incompetent Coaching of the PP ?? 2-45

Typical Nutless, Spineless & Brainless Twit that he has always been

Posted by Evilpens on 03/20/11 at 04:02 PM ET

UMMMM Where was the Blame for his Incompetent Coaching of the PP ?? 2-45

Probably because this is a thread discussing Matt Cooke’s latest brain fart, not a ‘how bad is the Penguins power play’ thread.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 04:04 PM ET

OK, everyone has had their fair share of back and forth, off topic talk.

Please stay on topic, it’s Sunday, a day of rest and relaxation.

Thanks!

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 03/20/11 at 04:04 PM ET

God, this is great!  Eating your insides up, huh?  LOL
The contempt says volumes, believe me!

Listen very closely: Start chainsaw, then your stick your hands and/or head into it.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 04:06 PM ET

Just go away.  You’re way worse than Evilpens.

OK.  Take care.

Posted by RogerNYLA on 03/20/11 at 04:09 PM ET

Seth Rorabaugh’s (humorous, but spot-on) take, from Empty Netters:

-What do you say about Matt Cooke? Lots of things actually. He’s a dirty player. Period. He’s a talanted palyer. He’s vital to the penalty kill. He’s competent with the puck. And he’s amazing on the forecheck. But all of that is lost by the fact that he’s a dirty player. And today, he was a liablity.

-He deserve a 10-game suspension at the very least. But this is a [garage league] the NHL. Don’t expect more than eight.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 03/20/11 at 04:15 PM ET

Stupid. Selfish and dirty play.  Bench him. I would say waive him, but then he would be taking runs at Penguins instead.

Posted by Russian Rocket on 03/20/11 at 04:41 PM ET

What a *#$%@& moron Cooke is, someone needs to punch the shit out of him soon.

Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 03/20/11 at 04:48 PM ET

Cooke changed the game, and gave the Rangers life when they were outplayed most shifts up to that point. A damn shame when players like Neal were having a hell of a game.

Honest question here, even if the Penguins wanted to waive/suspend him, would that 1) violate any terms that the NHLPA could sue them for, or 2) be possible in a salary cap era where they’d likely still need to pay his salary? I guess they would have to send him to AHL to get the salary off the books, right? Remember, the Pens are pretty damn close to the cap last I checked.

Posted by penguinsfan on 03/20/11 at 04:50 PM ET

Wow….Pens fans saying he isn’t a barbarian like Trevor Gillies?  Laughable….Try pulling your head from wherever it is and watch the clip.  Looked a lot like the Gillies/Tangradi hit, didn’t it?

At least Islanders fans can admit Gillies is a goon.  Try removing your black & gold glasses and look at this objectively.  Cooke should get 12 games for this.  The angle proves it.

Posted by Mickey Malice from Austin TX on 03/20/11 at 05:25 PM ET

Well mario,

  The World breathlessly awaits your comdenation of the latest “head-Shot”.

  I’m guessing a press confrence will be held, and fists will be pounded upon podiums in anger at the wreckless style of play in the NHL. These actions must be stopped!! Mr. commissioner, do something!!!

Oh wait…....it’s just cooke being cooke. No harm No foul. 

Posted by Down River Dan on 03/20/11 at 05:36 PM ET

Honest question here, even if the Penguins wanted to waive/suspend him, would that 1) violate any terms that the NHLPA could sue them for, or 2) be possible in a salary cap era where they’d likely still need to pay his salary? I guess they would have to send him to AHL to get the salary off the books, right? Remember, the Pens are pretty damn close to the cap last I checked.

I don’t think they would be able to do anything at all until the offseason.

Buyouts can only happen in certain weeks of the summer, AHL rosters are finalized the day after the NHL trade deadline and cannot be changed, trades are done until the playoffs are over (I think waivers are as well, though they -might- still exist in some form) and a team suspension for something a player did to a player on another team sounds like something the PA would grieve.

The only thing they would be able to do is give Cooke the Georges Laraque/Dan Cloutier ‘even though we’re paying you and you’re taking up a roster spot, don’t come to the rink, ever again’ treatment.

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 05:39 PM ET

@CS6687 I wasn’t making this an Islanders issue.
huh? because you said:
The only thing I can guarantee is that the Rangers won’t be planning an all-out assault on the Penguins next season like that other joke team that plays in New York did back in February.
Joke team? you mean like the one that employs Matt Cooke, and says they want nothing to do with the game if this is what it comes to?!?!
It is funny that you somehow attack the Islanders for what they did and claim it was worse…......they had guys injured also in a previous game, now i don’t agree with how Gillies and others went about it, something needed to be done (for the franchise to stand up for itself)
What was Cooke retaliating against? What sad story will he come up with.
I am an Islanders fan and I wouldn’t hold it against the Rags if they at least did some fighting against the Pens (no matter what happens to Cooke)if they play them in the playoffs or next season.

You know its bad that most Pens fans wont defend Cooke AND wont make any backhanded excuses (like attacking the Islanders, which weren’t playing in this game and have ZERO to do with him)
Cooke deserves getting the book thrown at him. Gillies did it twice, how many head shots Cooke has done in his career?? Has it been dozens of times because I can find a lot of evidence on youtube,

Posted by Pnut from Earth on 03/20/11 at 05:49 PM ET

Roger, would you please stop spamming a thread about Matt Cooke elbowing Ryan McDonough with stuff about the Islanders that is of interest to nobody? I don’t see anybody from Rochester ranting about the Americans.

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 05:53 PM ET

Mario Lemieux had some good ideas about how to deal with these kinds of hits last week. At the time, I thought his credibility was undermined by the fact that his franchise continued to employ Cooke. I was told on these boards that I was being an idiot.

Again, Mario has the opportunity to do something. I would think a charitable donation commensurate with the team fine he proposed is in order, bearing in mind that under the system he proposed any team fine would be doubled in the case of a player who had twice offended in the same season.

At the very least, discipline against Cooke from within the Pens organization is long overdue. I hope the League throws the book at him this time, but if they don’t the Pens should. Maybe they both should.

Posted by Da lil Guy from Ottawa on 03/20/11 at 05:59 PM ET

Posted by Down River Dan on 03/20/11 at 05:36 PM ET

+1

Still waiting…....

Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, preparing on 03/20/11 at 06:10 PM ET

Don’t forget, Cooke has two years left on his contract AND a no-trade clause. 
When they signed the three-year deal the Pens had to include the NTC to bring down the value of the contract. 

Trading him in the off-season isn’t an option unless somebody is crazy enough to really REALLY want him.  It’s too late this season to put him on waivers for the purpose of sending him to W/B-S because the clear day rosters were set weeks ago. 

I’m envisioning a nine-game suspension by the league and a healthy scratch status for the entirety of the Pens playoff run. 

Contract buy-out in the summer?

Posted by David Lee from Greensboro, NC on 03/20/11 at 06:17 PM ET

Dumb dumb dumb by Cooke.  Just doesn’t get it.  Pens had control of the game and then it was gone.  We’ll see what happens tomorrow.  Sure Cooke will get a minimum of 8, probably should be more but Callahan got up and was fine. 

Wow….Pens fans saying he isn’t a barbarian like Trevor Gillies?  Laughable….Try pulling your head from wherever it is and watch the clip.  Looked a lot like the Gillies/Tangradi hit, didn’t it?

I must have missed the part where he punched a guy while he was down and then taunted him in the runway.

Posted by pens fan in baltimore on 03/20/11 at 06:19 PM ET

I am an Islanders fan

That sucks.

My point was Cooke can actually be a very good player when he’s not doing stupid things like he did today. Gillies? A hack and loser with no skill and would be a rent-a-cop if the Islanders weren’t employing him. I’m done talking about that loser organization in Long Island. Back to discussing real, successful hockey teams…

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 06:30 PM ET

cs6687:

Don’t forget; YOUR team was a bunch of losers as well at one point, when they TANKED for Lemieux and Jagr.  Just because you got lucky with Crosby and got a cup for a total of 3 to the Islanders’ FOUR, doesn’t make you any better.  You gotta win another cup for that, and you’re not doing it this year.

If you want to talk about loser organizations, try using your memory a bit and recognizing the fact that your teams’ method of escaping failure was to throw games.  True competitive spirit.

You fail.

Posted by Mickey Malice on 03/20/11 at 06:40 PM ET

Contract buy-out in the summer?

He’s over 30 and the Penguins are always against the cap, meaning $1.1 million or so in phantom cap costs for the next 4 years (if my buyout math is right) isn’t something they’ll be likely to want to live with.

Their best hope is trading him for pennies-on-the-dollar return to a team in the west. Even though excellent penalty killers (plays on the best PK unit in the league and leads all skaters with SH goals and points) with great defensive stats (the Globe and Mail ranked him 3rd at forward using sabremetrics in January) that score 15 goal/year, have fantastic work habits and favorable cap hits don’t exactly grow on trees, I can’t figure there will be anything resembling a bidding war in the current climate.

Still, Cooke contributes enough that someone who needs bottom six veteran forwards that kill penalties well and will either overlook or view his baggage as a net positive should be expected take a flyer on him if they can get him for nothing.

Anaheim comes to mind almost immediately. Perhaps Edmonton as well, as he’d be the best checking-liner on that team by a mile.

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 06:43 PM ET

The thing with Mario Lemieuxs statement a while back about these kind of plays…he basically excused Cooke by saying if the rules were in place then this wouldn’t happen. So until the rules get in place, Cooke is free to roam. Mario didn’t take responsibility he just passed the buck on to NHL, yet, his own player continues to give examples of why there needs to be a Cooke rule.

Posted by TheFreak on 03/20/11 at 06:50 PM ET

Roger, just stop.

The Penguins sent, I think, 4 players to the All-Star Game and missed the playoffs by 1 point (mostly because of injuries) the year they drafted Jagr.

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 06:50 PM ET

Mickey Malice, yes, the Penguins tanked to get Jagr. They knew four other teams would pass on him (sarcasm). The Penguins did not tank to get Crosby, Malkin, etc. They couldn’t compete without a salary cap (you know back when Bobby Holik got paid $9 million/season), so they chose to rebuild. They made the most of their drafting.

I’d like for you to prove where the Penguins threw games for years and years.

You fail.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 07:00 PM ET

Gee, injuries…..kinda like the Islanders have led the league in 3 out of the last four seasons…..

Point being, it’s a 2 way street.

Posted by Mickey Malice on 03/20/11 at 07:01 PM ET

cs6687

How long have you been a hockey fan?

Posted by Mickey Malice on 03/20/11 at 07:04 PM ET

About twenty years. I remember when the Penguins, instead of going for a tie in the last game of the regular season in 1989-90 against Buffalo that would have clinched a playoff berth, threw 79 games and almost four periods of a hockey season down the toilet by letting Buffalo score with less than a minute left to miss the playoffs to gamble to get Jagr.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 07:08 PM ET

Honest question here, even if the Penguins wanted to waive/suspend him, would that 1) violate any terms that the NHLPA could sue them for, or 2) be possible in a salary cap era where they’d likely still need to pay his salary? I guess they would have to send him to AHL to get the salary off the books, right? Remember, the Pens are pretty damn close to the cap last I checked.

Posted by penguinsfan on 03/20/11 at 04:50 PM ET

Steviesteve was right, but I’d like to see Mario try something new.

I think there is a way they could suspend him without having to worry about his cap (although it would involve putting him on unconditional waivers, where he might get picked up).

You could make the argument that he violated team rules.  If Shero, Mario, Bylsma, and everybody else has talked to him about these kinds of plays and he keeps making them, then he’s an insubordinate player.

My question would be whether the NHLPA would fight on Cooke’s behalf to keep him in the league…

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/20/11 at 07:19 PM ET

from wikipedia:

The team had the league’s worst record in both the 1983 and 1984 seasons, and with the team suffering financial problems, it again looked as though the Penguins would fold. Mario Lemieux, one of the most highly touted NHL draft picks in history, was due to be drafted in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Heading towards the end of the season ahead of the New Jersey Devils, who were placed last, the Penguins made a number of questionable moves that appeared to weaken the team in the short-term. The Penguins posted three six-game winless streaks in the last 21 games of the season (out of which they won only three) and earned the right to draft Lemieux amidst protests from Devils president Bob Butera.[4] Pittsburgh coach Lou Angotti later admitted that a conscious decision was made to end with as the team with the worst record, stating in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that a mid-season lunch prompted the plan, in light of the fact that there was a high chance of the franchise folding if Lemieux was not drafted.[5] In particular, Angotti gave the example of a game the Penguins were winning 3–1, at which point general manager Eddie Johnston asked the coach “what are you doing?” in the first intermission of the game that was eventually lost 6–3. The Penguins were still, despite losing ten of their last twelve games, only two games away from losing Lemieux to the Devils.[5] However, Angotti stated that he did not feel comfortable with the plan, even though it worked and saved the franchise. Other teams offered substantial trade packages for the draft choice, but the Penguins kept the pick.

Fail.

Posted by Mickey Malice on 03/20/11 at 07:21 PM ET

2009 Yann Danis=1990 Mario Lemieux

Posted by steviesteve on 03/20/11 at 07:24 PM ET

I never disagreed that the Penguins tanked to get Lemieux, Mickey Mouse.

Fail.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 07:44 PM ET

The Islanders haven’t made the playoffs for the last four seasons. They obviously tanked to get Tavares, Bailey, and are currently tanking to get whomever they get in June. Right, Mickey Mouse?

Posted by cs6687 on 03/20/11 at 07:46 PM ET

How much more vidence does a league need? That was a blatant attempt to injure and not even remotely close to being a hockey play. At least the refs got this call right, giving Cooke five, ten and a game. Colin Campbell better be looking closely at this and not employing his fool Wheel of Justice. I wonder if the Pens will bench Cooke before it even gets to the NHL brass level.

Posted by Iggy Rules on 03/20/11 at 08:54 PM ET

OK.  Take care.

Posted by RogerNYLA on 03/20/11 at 04:09 PM ET

Jesus…who’d have thunk it would be that easy?

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 03/20/11 at 09:59 PM ET

Wow….Pens fans saying he isn’t a barbarian like Trevor Gillies?  Laughable….Try pulling your head from wherever it is and watch the clip.  Looked a lot like the Gillies/Tangradi hit, didn’t it?

At least Islanders fans can admit Gillies is a goon.  Try removing your black & gold glasses and look at this objectively.  Cooke should get 12 games for this.  The angle proves it.

Posted by Mickey Malice from Austin TX on 03/20/11 at 05:25 PM ET

So, I’d love to see where, after Cooke elbowed that Ranger in the head today, he dropped his gloves and punched him while he was face-down on the ice.  Then taunt him as he lay there, concussed.  When you find that video, post it here.  Thanks.

from wikipedia:

Posted by Mickey Malice on 03/20/11 at 07:21 PM ET

Wikipedia?!  Wow!  Using Wikipedia - a site that pretty much anyone can go in and change - to prove a point?  Fail.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 03/20/11 at 10:11 PM ET

The most riveting aspect of all of this is will be Mr. Lemieux’s response.  Following the League’s response to the brawl filled match against the New York Islanders, Mr. Lemieux threatened to divorce himself from the League.  Many called this the “I’m quitting and taking my puck with me” speech.  Generally speaking, his statement was not well received except by those in and around Pittsburgh and others scattered around the continent.  More recently, in regards to policing the league, Mr. Lemieux stated that the onus should be shared by teams and managers; that fines should be spread to teams that employ skaters that consistently show no regard or respect to the safety of opposing skaters.

Mr. Lemieux has basically two options:  he can retain the services of Mr. Cooke or he remove him from the organization via either a trade or release.  In the event that Mr. Lemieux retains the services of Mr. Cooke, Mr. Lemieux will face overwhelming criticisms.  I’m certain everyone will be clamoring to grasp the logic and reasoning.
At that point, Mr. Lemieux may be best served by selling his stake and moving away from the League as he earlier threatened to do, this time for different reasons.

Should Mr. Lemieux ostracize Mr. Cooke from the organization, he basically has only one option – release.  Mr. Cooke will not be traded.  I doubt that the Penguins will be able to find a partner willing to take on the services of Mr. Cooke and the stench of surrounding the baggage he brings to any organization.  The situation is similar to Sean Avery.  Avery was banished from his previous employer.  What saved Avery was some unearthly and unknown, freakish connection to the NYR.  However, at this point, I think that the Rangers would admit bringing him back was a mistake.  Other franchises have noticed and I believe there is no home for Mr. Cooke in this league beyond Pittsburgh. 

Mr. Cooke has repeatedly proven that he is devoid of the necessary consistent control, stability, sound judgment and apposite respect for his opponent that are requisites of employment in today’s NHL.  While nearly every player retaliates at some point in his career, one-time events or out of character incidents can be tolerated.  Mr. Cooke’s penchant for the abusive and disrespectful manner in which he approaches the game and his opponents has been noted by nearly everyone in the sport.  He has failed to grasp some basic rules or understand the code by which the vast majority of players abide by.

Should Mr. Lemieux opt to not to retain Mr. Cooke’s services, I see few options for a continuance of his career.  LNAH?  Unfortunately, I don’t think Mr. Cooke qualifies for that ligue.  He is (a.) not from Quebec and (b.) did not play his junior in le Q.  Should Mr. Cooke wish to continue playing, the KHL or other European Leagues are perhaps his best option.

Mr. Lemieux has some decisions to make.  BIG decisions.  His legacy could potentially be affected by his actions over the next 48 hours and this upcoming summer.

Posted by Unicorn Force from DC (but like everyone here, I'm not a local) on 03/20/11 at 11:53 PM ET

@Unicorn - good points.

After Mario’s statements to the NHL passing blame, it would be kind of funny if Colin Campbell or the NHL won’t do anything - just to spite Mario, which then puts the burden back on Mario to do something.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Cooke deserves punishment, but just sayin.

Posted by TheFreak on 03/21/11 at 12:25 PM ET

From TSN:

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke has an in-person hearing with NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell in Toronto today at 1:30pm et, stemming from his elbow to the head of New York Rangers defenceman Ryan McDonagh.

I hope they throw the book at him.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 03/21/11 at 12:47 PM ET

This is not a blind side hit.  This was an elbow to the head from behind while trying to finish a check. 

his opponent has eyes in the back of his head?

you sure say some dumb things.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/21/11 at 02:43 PM ET

“At least the season,” Zetterberg said. “I don’t think he should play any more this year. And then we just have to see what we’re going to do after that.”
Zetterberg later clarified that when he says season, he means the whole thing. Playoffs included.

- from the Sporting News

I think Zetterberg is usually pretty level-headed and the NHL would do well to take his advice.  I think no matter what they give Cooke it has to be at least double his previous high or repeat offender status means nothing. They may want to add in a request to seek counseling for impulse control much like they did with Avery since he can’t seem to avoid these situations.

As for the Pens organization (Mr. Lemieux et al) I think the best thing they can do is allow the NHL to hand out the suspension and then make a brief statement agreeing with the NHL ruling.. At this point no good can come from them making premature statements and any statement they make after the Cooke ruling will ring hollow. Now is not the time to draw more attention or criticism, but to let it play out without adding anymore fuel to the debate.

Posted by hockey1919 from mid-atlantic on 03/21/11 at 02:59 PM ET