Cooke’s not a “throwaway” player.

Nothing is not spelled “noting.”

Guerin didn’t “throw him under the bus,” he answered a question regarding hits specifically like the Cooke one. People, yes, even in a locker room on the same pro sports team, have differing opinions (and Cooke obviously knows how dirty the hit is, but he also knows it’s not currently a penalty). Throwing Cooke under the bus would be saying “Yeah, he’s gotten away with it for too long, Cooke’s out there to hurt people and he needs to be made an example of. He’s a rat.”

Posted by Nathan from BC on 03/11/10 at 04:12 PM ET

Oh, and Colby Armstrong should not be included whatsoever in that group.

Also, do y’all think Armstrong’s hits on unsuspecting players coming from behind the net should be included in the new rule? I don’t. I’d put them in the same league as the Mitchell/Toews hit.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 03/11/10 at 04:14 PM ET

Oh, and Colby Armstrong should not be included whatsoever in that group.

Also, do y’all think Armstrong’s hits on unsuspecting players coming from behind the net should be included in the new rule? I don’t. I’d put them in the same league as the Mitchell/Toews hit.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 03/11/10 at 04:15 PM ET

I think the only reasonable thing to do is to send somebody out there to take out Malkin or Crosby. Why? Because they are both douche bags and for no other reason…

Posted by cainer4wingsglory on 03/11/10 at 04:56 PM ET

I’m sorry, I don’t see enough Southeast hockey to be familiar enough with Colby Armstrong’s style of play to know whether he belongs in the category of people like Cooke, Ruutu, and Boogard (three of the dirtiest).

Guerin went as far out of his way to not throw Cooke under the bus as he could without sounding like an idiot.  I think it was a nice attempt to say Cooke wasn’t trying to hurt Savard (which I disagree with), but there’s no way Guerin can say that he approves of plays like that.

I’m sincerely hoping that the worst act of violence in the next Pittsburgh/Boston game is a fight that Cooke loses.  I know he’s got a reputation for refusing to fight, but I think even he realizes what’s at stake and this is probably the least ugly solution.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/11/10 at 05:02 PM ET

Coincidentally, in the game where Bertuzzi took out Moore, Moore had earlier in the game dropped the gloves with none other than Matt Cooke, if I recall correctly.

That wasn’t enough to satiate Bertuzzi, as having to fight Matt Cooke wasn’t nearly enough punishment for Moore having concussed Naslund in a previous game.

Posted by Shabbadoo on 03/11/10 at 05:13 PM ET

Yeah, like I said somewhere Cooke’s dumb as a puck and smart like a fox. He knows what he’s doing out there, and I do believe he has the sense to know he needs to fight. He’s fought three times this season (which he’s eager to point out), and I think it’s part of a realization that he needs to personally answer the bell sometimes.

There have been many games where there’s a cheapshot and a player is injured, then the two teams play each other again soon, with a tremendous buildup of “What’s gonna happen?!” which turns into a regular hockey game on the ice. It feels like this won’t be one of them, but like you say, if Cooke goes out there and does the honourable thing, it will help to quell tempers.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 03/11/10 at 05:15 PM ET

Yeah Shabbadoo, great point.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 03/11/10 at 05:16 PM ET

Coincidentally, in the game where Bertuzzi took out Moore, Moore had earlier in the game dropped the gloves with none other than Matt Cooke, if I recall correctly.

That wasn’t enough to satiate Bertuzzi, as having to fight Matt Cooke wasn’t nearly enough punishment for Moore having concussed Naslund in a previous game.

Posted by Shabbadoo on 03/11/10 at 05:13 PM ET

That’s probably the 2nd worst outcome and I’m hoping against it.  The first would be a Bruin taking out Crosby, Malkin or any other Penguin for that matter in a manner than ends his season or his career.

I’m not taking anything away from Moore’s victim status here, but didn’t he keep running his mouth after the fight?  Also, didn’t the attack happen directly after Moore refused to fight Bertuzzi, turned his back and skated off?

Like I said, I don’t want to make it sound like Moore got what was coming to him, because nobody deserves to have that happen.  I will say that I think Cooke is smart enough to realize how much of a powder keg he’s going into and that sparking off at the mouth isn’t a good idea.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/11/10 at 05:22 PM ET

This whole commentary, from the players, is ridiculous.  I don’t recall Mike Richards getting heat like this.  Oh yeah, Richards is a star and a gold medallist at the Olympics.  Forgot about that.  And Moore, please.  He fought Cooke earlier in the game, Bertuzzi was just a homicidal maniac at that moment.  Had Bertuzzi connected that 2nd punch when he was on top of Moore, he would be in jail for manslaughter now.  These are not the same things.

The NHL is creating this problem, Richards should’ve been penalised and suspended, same thing with Cooke.  Colin Campbell is the idiot here.

Posted by Harrald on 03/11/10 at 05:26 PM ET

See Dumbass Cementhead Canucks Don’t Mention anyone standing up for Mike(MR. LEADERSHIP)Richards But They can’t STFU about Matt Cooke Because He doesn’t Fight Enough

& also These Tools who want Cooke Suspended For Intent to Injure, Should Every player who Fights Be Suspended?? Because I think the intent of Throwing Punches at another human being is intent To Injure

Posted by Evilpens on 03/11/10 at 06:03 PM ET

“ I don’t recall Mike Richards getting heat like this. “

Because Cooke has an 11+ year career full of bullshit plays and hits, and a history of hurting guys with those plays.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 03/11/10 at 06:05 PM ET

& also These Tools who want Cooke Suspended For Intent to Injure, Should Every player who Fights Be Suspended?? Because I think the intent of Throwing Punches at another human being is intent To Injure

Posted by Evilpens on 03/11/10 at 06:03 PM ET

Do you seriously believe what you’re saying here?

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/11/10 at 06:08 PM ET

UMMMMMMMMMMMM Yeah I you Gay ass have ever been in a Fight (Which I doubt) Do you Throw Punches at someone’s Face for the Hell Of it, For Something to Break up the Boredom or Are you trying to hurt someone

DOUCHEBAG Wings Fan

Posted by Evilpens on 03/11/10 at 06:18 PM ET

I think the only reasonable thing to do is to send somebody out there to take out Malkin or Crosby. Why? Because they are both douche bags and for no other reason…

Posted by cainer4wingsglory on 03/11/10 at 04:56 PM ET

And you’re now an even bigger douchebag for your suggestion.

This is a sport, remember?

Posted by HNBCTB on 03/11/10 at 06:39 PM ET

UMMMMMMMMMMMM Yeah I you Gay ass have ever been in a Fight (Which I doubt) Do you Throw Punches at someone’s Face for the Hell Of it, For Something to Break up the Boredom or Are you trying to hurt someone

DOUCHEBAG Wings Fan rolleyes

Posted by Evilpens on 03/11/10 at 06:18 PM ET

That’s all I needed to know.  There’s no point in trying to discuss the differences between the fighting rule and the intent to injure rule.  You’re obviously being intentionally obtuse or you really do have that light of a grip on the concepts at hand here.

BTW, what does “I you Gay ass” mean?

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/11/10 at 06:55 PM ET

Mean it, Your Was supposed to be in there

Also If you are trying to Punch someone in the face you are TRYING to injure someone!!

If you did that in the arena that the Hockey game is being played at what would happen to you ???? You would be arrested !! But On the Ice it OK right

If you are such a CEMENTHEAD that you can’t accept the Fact that throwing Puches at another persons head is trying to hurt them then there is no Hope

Posted by Evilpens on 03/11/10 at 10:01 PM ET

i like that every writer and commenter is treating the Bertuzzi/Moore incident as the rule not the exception.  bertuzzi went way over the top.  but he skates for the wings so some of you pointing out that moore had it coming might be confused. 

anyway, everyone is confusing the situation.  everyone wanted cooke suspended. cooke said he expected to get suspended.  THE LEAGUE chose not to suspend cooke.  that’s not his fault.  the bruins will take it up with cooke.  he knows its coming.  the problem here is with the league and their policies.  cooke’s hit was dirty and everyone knows this.  the bruins arent going to take it out on sideny crosby because colin campbell smokes weed all day.

Posted by Heavy Orange from cardinals on 03/11/10 at 11:07 PM ET

Mean it, Your Was supposed to be in there

Also If you are trying to Punch someone in the face you are TRYING to injure someone!!

If you did that in the arena that the Hockey game is being played at what would happen to you ???? You would be arrested !! But On the Ice it OK right

If you are such a CEMENTHEAD that you can’t accept the Fact that throwing Puches at another persons head is trying to hurt them then there is no Hope

Posted by Evilpens on 03/11/10 at 10:01 PM ET

Like I said, you’re either being intentionally obtuse or you’re not capable of understanding the intricacies of why there’s an intent to injure rule and a fighting rule in the game of hockey.  I have no doubt that guys are trying to injure one another in a fight.  That’s not the point.  The fact that you’ve made it a point makes it clear that you’re not getting why Cooke should have been suspended for intent to injure.

i like that every writer and commenter is treating the Bertuzzi/Moore incident as the rule not the exception.  bertuzzi went way over the top.  but he skates for the wings so some of you pointing out that moore had it coming might be confused.

anyway, everyone is confusing the situation.  everyone wanted cooke suspended. cooke said he expected to get suspended.  THE LEAGUE chose not to suspend cooke.  that’s not his fault.  the bruins will take it up with cooke.  he knows its coming.  the problem here is with the league and their policies.  cooke’s hit was dirty and everyone knows this.  the bruins arent going to take it out on sideny crosby because colin campbell smokes weed all day.

Posted by Heavy Orange from cardinals on 03/11/10 at 11:07 PM ET

Well, since I"m the only commenter who pointed out Moore’s behavior as part of what escalated that situation, allow me to remind you that I specifically mentioned that Moore did NOT deserve what he got.  I meant to tie that to the concept that Cooke will probably watch himself pretty carefully. 

But you’re right, the league is absolutely the bad guy in this whole situation.  Unfortunately, the Bruins don’t have a way to lash out at the league here.  Well, technically they do… they could go after Crosby, who is the face of the league.  This is basically the worst possible result and something I pray doesn’t happen.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/12/10 at 12:30 AM ET

Uh oh. I see the word “Gay” in the above posts. Where’s the comment police now?

Posted by Simian from Land of the Free, Home of the Brave on 03/12/10 at 08:26 AM ET

Yeah, but it was capitalized.  That makes it a proper noun.  He was saying that my ass’ name is “Gay” like New Orleans Saints cornerback Randall Gay.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/12/10 at 08:55 AM ET

Your ass’ name is Gay?  What’s his first name?  I hope it’s not Steve.

Posted by Mike @ MHH on 03/12/10 at 10:53 AM ET

You’d have to ask the guy who came up with a name for my ass.  I tend not to think about other guys’ asses in such detail, really, but Evilpens seems to have a fixation. 

Personally, I don’t think the name will stick.  I have no intention of introducing people to my ass and saying “Hi, this is Gay”.  That’s just silly.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/12/10 at 11:04 AM ET