Comments on: NHL Policy Forces Mario and the Penguins to Employ a Matt Cooke

By: Jag.off

Jag.off — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:10:31 +0000

I don’t think h figured it out as much as he was trying to hide the fact he just elbowed the guy. I’m sure they have more cameras at the nationally televised games also. Dumb move…and he’s literally paying for it!

By: R@

R@ — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:17:15 +0000

What kind of message is Shero sending the Pens players throwing Cooke under the bus like that? Even though Garth Snow is an idiot, at least he knows to stick up for his players.

By: Phil Krundle

Phil Krundle — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:06:31 +0000

Matt Cooke got suspended the rest of the season (10 games) and the first round of the playoffs (up to 7 games). Cooke stands to lose $220,000 in salary from this suspension.

I would like to say that I am all for this kind of suspension as long as Colin Campbell and the VP who seems to let Boston off the hook all the time start making suspensions longer and more meaningful to ALL players. I really think between the loss of salary and playing time, this sends the correct message to the NHL players.

By: Pens Fan

Pens Fan — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:06:11 +0000

Throw the book at him Danno!

By: Titforthat

Titforthat — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:51:21 +0000

I agree, until the league ponies up and does something about this, the Pens might as well have all the goons on their team. Mario made an offer that would have cost him & the Penguins a fortune, the league turned it down. If the Pens let Matt Cooke go, he goes to another team that plays the Penguins. Why would Mario do that?

It did look like Cooke figured out just a second to late that what he was doing was stupid, when he tried to pull his elbow in. I think he’ll get 6-8 anything over 8 would be insane because of how the NHL fined Gilles. Cooke deserves whatever he gets though.

By: GHenson

GHenson — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:34:48 +0000

I doubt you’ll find anyone in Penguin management or a Penguin fan for that matter sticking up for Cooke.

I truly believe the players on the opposing teams leave Crosby and Malkin alone a bit more because they are aware a crazy person might take an elbow to their head.

If you are a good fighter, why not take a cheap shot at a star in the playoffs. You’ll probably win a fight, might only get suspended a game or two, yet you’ve helped your team get to the next round. Your a hero.

If the NHL doesn’t up suspensions and fines like Lemieux asks, the Pens need an insane person on the roster who makes the fighter/goon afraid he might get taken out long term if he pulls crap.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:17:55 +0000

Rupp, Adams, Engelland, Orpik & Goddard are all capable playing the enforcer role without recklessly endangering players on the opposing team.

I used to go to bat for Cooke, but I’m tired of doing it.

By: Bippy

Bippy — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:15:33 +0000

I agree with Mario. Up the suspensions and fines and up the fees to the teams. This is the only way this crap will stop.

They should also consider self imposed term limits on Bettman’s position. They should be bringing in new blood all the time. Maybe a maximum of 6 years per term.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:10:57 +0000

You’re seriously comparing Cooke’s elbow to a scrum in front of the net? A face wash or a push isn’t going to give someone a concussion and injure them. Cooke’s elbow was reckless, intentional, and with intent to injure.

I’ve got no problems with “tough” guys in the league (Goddard, Prust for the Rangers, etc). They are there to protect their teammates from players exactly like Matt Cooke that take illegal cheap shots at other people. Matt Cooke is the reason teams need tough guys.

By: Tubbs Mcgee

Tubbs Mcgee — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:07:43 +0000

“If you don’t want to protect yourself, why should the league?” That says everything you need to know about the NHL in a nutshell.

By: Myron

Myron — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:05:23 +0000

Great stuff. I’ve been reading this idiotic crap all day… Mario should clean his own house, he can’t clean his house until the NHL fixes the foundation.

By: TimA

TimA — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:03:25 +0000

The sad part is that Cooke can play hockey if he wants. He pisses me off when he does this sheit!

By: ZachV

ZachV — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:01:00 +0000

Cooke deserves what he gets, it was a stupid play.

The media blaming Mario for this is idiotic. The NHL deserves all the bad attention it gets from this. I for one am happy it happened during a nationally televised game at least it will bring attention to the problem.

By: JFW

JFW — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:54:37 +0000

The problem is that players aren’t policing themselves. The game is too fast now and there isn’t room on the roster for the players that used do the “police work”