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Pittsburgh, PA • United States • 48 Years Old • Male
Those of you that have read my blogs before know that I think Matt Cooke has some skill as a hockey player -- he serves a useful purpose as an agitator/checking forward, is a great penalty killer and also has some offensive skill.

You also know that I wrote a blog back when Cooke hit Savard and called for a suspension even though, at the time, Cooke's hit was considered a "clean" one by the rulebook (which has since been changed because of this hit).

Yesterday, Matt Cooke earned a 5 minute major penalty and game misconduct for an elbow he threw against the New York Rangers Ryan McDonagh. Luckily, Ryan was not seriously injured. The penalty took place at 4:36 of the 3rd period of what was, at the time, a hard -- cleanly fought -- 1-1 tie.

Like the Savard hit...and others Cooke has been involved in during his career, this is another tally mark on the side of what Matt Cooke COSTS his team...in the ongoing Matt Cooke Cost/Benefit Analysis.

Truth be told, the Penguins did score a short handed goal (by Jordan Staal) during the 5 minute major given to Cooke and the Rangers DID NOT score any power play goals during the 5 minute major. The Rangers did however score 2 goals during the overlapping double-minor that was given to Matt Niskanen.

Someone could argue that Cooke's major penalty didn't cost the Penguins during this game.

But those of us who know better realize that the Penguins penalty killing unit was pretty gassed by the time the Rangers scored the first of their power play goals...and that was the direct result of killing off the 5 minute major that Cooke drew.

And those of us that know better realize that Matt Cooke's actions are starting to cost this team in ways that the better aspects of his game don't make up for.

The elbow he threw yesterday is indefensible. There is no good explanation for the hit. No way to say it was an accident. No reason he should have done what he did when he did it.

It was an insanely STUPID play...that turns into another tarnished example of what others have been saying for a while now...Matt Cooke just doesn't get it. He either just doesn't see where the line is that he keeps crossing OR he sees it and just doesn't care that he crosses it. Either way, the costs associated with having Matt Cooke are starting to be more expensive to this team, it's image and the image of it's fans, than any of the benefits he provides.

It has gotten to the point where not only are actions like this indefensible, continuing to have him on this team has become that too.



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III
Filed Under:   suspension   cooke   pens  
March 21, 2011 9:51 AM ET | Delete
lets see what ur pathetic owner says now bout his own player taken cheap shots an killing the intregity of the game.....hopefully he stands by his own words an leaves the game of hockey, sorry but he is a big huge baby.....also hate to say it, but still glad the isles beat up the whinning pens, if u watched the game yesterday, there was alot more cheap shots from your players.....
March 21, 2011 9:57 AM ET | Delete
Although U R Entitled 2 Ur Opinion...in the end...Glad I'm Not U
March 21, 2011 10:25 AM ET | Delete
Good take... It's time for Mario to lead the way again...
March 21, 2011 10:26 AM ET | Delete
Othern that matt cookes hit name the cheap shots "ur not me". Gilles elbow was the same cheap shot as matt cookes but matt cooke can play hockey. I would rather have cooke on my team then against my team.
March 21, 2011 10:28 AM ET | Delete
Also at least our owner won a cup "ur not me"
March 21, 2011 10:39 AM ET | Delete
I like that a Penguins fan posted this. I agree, Matt Cooke is a skilled player. He is a gifted agitator and penalty killer. But time after time he has proven he just doesn't care. He goes out there to harm people. I hope Mario is proactive in the situation and suspends Cooke indefinitely without worrying about the NHL's ruling. Mario is now a marked man after his comments. He needs to be the first now to set the example and maybe the NHL will eventually follow suit.Good blog.
March 21, 2011 11:04 AM ET | Delete
Nice job Ice...we shall see...Here is Mario's chance...
March 21, 2011 12:06 PM ET | Delete
hey Pens fans, stop!!!! also stop trying to bring up stanley cups, just because you won 1 recently doesnt mean anything, with your 3 stars, u should have multiple cups, like mine :)oh an remember, u were gifted crosby on draft day, to save your franchise....from the 5th pick to 1st, yeah, mario definitely stroked bettman ..............
March 21, 2011 12:29 PM ET | Delete
Honestly, Do you people not think Lemieux knew what he was saying when he said it? You're well comfortable to sit behind a computer and criticize a guy who shits more hockey knowledge than you have. Jesus, he suggested stiffer suspensions knowing full well what he might get into with Cooke on his roster.
March 21, 2011 12:29 PM ET | Delete
You werent gifted tavares? So you cant name those other cheap hits i take it? Tell your players to have fun golfing "ur not me" they should be rather good by now!
March 21, 2011 12:29 PM ET | Delete
Still Glad I'm Not U
March 21, 2011 12:32 PM ET | Delete
I'm positive he won't argue or whine and cry when cooke gets suspended somewhere in the double digits for that hit and I'm sure weather Cooke is on his team or not he won't mind. Another thing I'm sure of is that he won't outwardly defend matt cooke they way garth snow stuck up for Gillies elbow. I've said it before but i'm not a pens fan.
March 21, 2011 12:36 PM ET | Delete
I love how Isles fans have jumped on this whole issue of lemieux thinking he is pathetically stupid enough to not see the clown on his roster that pulls that garbage so often. I personally believe that Colin Campbell is responsible to send Cooke a message that he should have sent a long time ago, 4 suspensions 3 of them 2 games and a 4 gamer when they forced Avery into rehab for having a loud mouth. Whats worse?
March 21, 2011 12:42 PM ET | Delete
sportsfreak13, how were we gifted tavares, when we were the worst team in the league?????? Waiting.......?????? sure u dont wanna change ur statement??????
March 21, 2011 12:44 PM ET | Delete
Icedog97.......... ah yes u do wish, lol..........
March 21, 2011 12:53 PM ET | Delete
also sportsfreak13, what other cheap shots are u talkin bout, if u wanna name the 1 gillies did on ur player, i dont support that, plus he got fined an suspended, which im glad
March 21, 2011 1:02 PM ET | Delete
It would be ironic is a player from Lemieux's team is the first to be fined and suspended in a way that Mario suggested...if it somehow resulted in more specific rules pertaining to head shots, I think it is something Lemieux and the Penguins would gladly pay the price for...
March 21, 2011 1:03 PM ET | Delete
Were the pens not the worst team in the league when we got crosby? we were in the bottom 3 i know that much. Also i was reffering to your first statement when you said "if u watched the game yesterday, there was alot more cheap shots from your players"
March 21, 2011 1:05 PM ET | Delete
I just wanted clarification of those hits you were reffering too? Yea i hope so icedog. I fully support a 10 game suspension and fine the pens 1 million.
March 21, 2011 1:08 PM ET | Delete
Just looked it up and we were last in 2003-2004 so im going to use your theory against you "your not me". how were we gifted Crosby, when we were the worst team in the league?????? Waiting.......?????? sure u dont wanna change ur statement??????... love copy and paste!
March 21, 2011 1:11 PM ET | Delete
I like the islander comments. Just because the owners of your favorite team are too busy worrying about paying the rent to give their opinions on dirty plays and dirty players *cough Gillies cough* doesn't mean you can criticize an owner who has the balls to stand up when one of his players are the problem. Lemieux has told Cooke to stop that kind of play and I'm sure the Penguins organization will suspend cooke because of it.
March 21, 2011 2:23 PM ET | Delete
Unlike when the islanders drafted tavares and only 5 teams had a chance at the #1 pick, the crosby year every team had a chance to get the #1 pick. I don't see how we were "gifted" crosby.
March 21, 2011 6:42 PM ET | Delete
Im all about hitting and fighting, but the NHL needs to get the goonery out of the NHL. This is not only extremely dangerous, but also is the only hockey stories that ESPN seems to put on the front page.
March 21, 2011 8:35 PM ET | Delete
Yeah...ESPN does everything they can to minimize the sport...since they don't own the broadcasting rights anymore...2 weeks back Ryan Cllahan had a hat trick and they showed his name as Joe Callahan...a guy that plays for the Panthers. Could have been an honest mistake but it's just the horrible lack of respect they give hockey since they don't make money off of it now...
March 22, 2011 12:12 PM ET | Delete
LOL love this crap.....sprort freak13 is correct...Crosby was not gifted to the Pens. they finished last in 03-04. There was no 04-05 season. ANYWAY, isnt this about Cooke? I know all the Pens fans and management are saying the right thing, but that only because they have egg on their face!! Lemieux said this Lemieux said that blah blah blah where is he now? Letting Shero take this one huh?....They still let Cooke wear the "A". Guess leading by example isnt their motto!! PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!!
March 22, 2011 12:50 PM ET | Delete
Theres no reason for mario to speak when hes just the owner and that falls on the GM. If he didnt agree with the ruling he would speak but to speak for no reason then to just agree with it would be like inviting the media to talk about him. Cooke wore the A because of all the injuries it was rotated through the lineup. At least mario is not defending cookes elbow like garth snow did for gilles. Good to see you back Islefornow!
March 22, 2011 3:17 PM ET | Delete
Mario has not been known to say much in the past...part of the reason why when he spoke out about the Isles game, it got so much attention. Being a guy that has weighed his words carefully throughout his career, his comments, on the surface seemed contradictory. But dig a little deeper and you will see that he probably anticipated a negative response.
March 22, 2011 3:19 PM ET | Delete
And as much as you would like to think it's egg on his face, you are being a little short sighted if you think Lemieux would not gladly trade in a Matt Cooke suspension for what could eventually turn out to be a safer playing environment for Sidney Crosby and players like him.
March 22, 2011 3:21 PM ET | Delete
You also have to see that Lemieux found himself, through planning or not, to be in the best position to help his own cause...so why wouldn't he?
March 22, 2011 7:48 PM ET | Delete
ICEDOG WOW!!! My only response to that is, from what I'm gathering from you, is you are the "Short Sighted" one. You just blatantly said you would allow Cooke to potentially end someone’s career to allow Crosby to be safe. I understand what you are saying and the impact he has to the NHL and your franchise.
March 22, 2011 7:48 PM ET | Delete
But to put it in the terms you did it sounds very "short sighted" and "selfish" and to say that Mario potentially planned the whole thing makes him personally responsible for all Cooke’s actions while in a Pens uniform. And isn’t Cooke’s actions in the past couple of seasons that has elevated this conversation to this level across the NHL. Yet you allow him the privilege of wearing the “A”. No, crap about it floating through the locker-room.
March 22, 2011 7:50 PM ET | Delete
It should have floated right past him. In this case Cooke elbowed a Ranger. Do you know how hard it is for me to argue against that. Hey sportfreak13. What’s up. Do me a favor until you have 4 cup also please put it in my name. Hey it should be long right? lol
March 23, 2011 1:05 AM ET | Delete
By planned I meant when he responded to the Isles incident...and whether or not he expected the reaction he got...then the Cooke incident put him in a situation to further his own cause. I didn't say he would allow/encourage Cooke to do that...I said he would gladly exchange the suspension for a safer environment...meaning, egg on his face, if that's what you think it is, ends up helping his cause. Not sure what you were thinking...
March 23, 2011 1:08 AM ET | Delete
Word on Pgh radio today was that Lemieux and Moorehouse want to trade/move Cooke in the off season, but not everybody else in the front office is in agreement with that.
March 23, 2011 8:35 AM ET | Delete
I hope instead they give him a really short leash. haha my bad isle4fornow4cup the name runs off the screen so i never got a chance to read it completely. I hope ray shero and dan bylsma talk them off the ledge because i dont want to play against matt cooke.
March 25, 2011 1:11 PM ET | Delete
:)
March 25, 2011 1:18 PM ET | Delete
:)
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