lol. Way to skip the entirely relevant first two comparisons to pick on the apples and oranges third one; then slip in some COMPLETELY irrelevant self-aggrandizing.




It's one thing to give people at AA or Troubled Teens unlimited chances when they are mostly hurting themselves. It's another to continually give more chances to say, someone who keeps attempting murder, going to prison, getting out, and trying again. Eventually, you just leave him in prison for the rest of his life before he ends it all for someone else. You don't stop hoping the person changes, but you don't put good citizens at risk based on that hope. Cooke can earn his redemption, but it doesn't have to be at the risk of hockey players who follow the rules; he can do so outside of the NHL.

However, Cooke didn't do anything that Bickell didn't do twice in Game 2 of the Blues/blackhawks series. NHL needs to decide what is allowed and what isn't, then punish primarily based on actions, with result of the actions and past history being very secondary concerns. Instead, much like the on ice officiating, the latter two seem to matter more than the first.
- Antilles

Actually, even coming from a Hawks fan, I don't believe there was a difference in the hit on Sabotka and the Cooke hit on Barrie. The only difference is; the past history of suspensions and that Barrie was significantly injured on the play. Don't get me wrong, I think Cooke is despicable. It's just such a double standard as far as suspensions are concerned when considering the act and not the injury

You should speak to the people at AA. Maybe be a commencement speaker at a school for troubled teens. Oh wait, how about preach your "people never change" to the burn wards and the cancer patients.

You want to punish Cooke, fine, but your general attitude towards redemption just sucks. The fact that you trumpet you knew Cooke would screw up before he even did (when in fact his penalty minutes and suspensions suggested otherwise), says that you are a negative person, and I feel sorry for you.

The world is full of people who made mistakes in the past, repeatedly even, and overcame them to be successful people and upstanding individuals. The list is too long to even put here.

Just sad, the whole thing.
- ThisJustinD

I think you've completely missed the point of this

Paul,

I was hoping you would right this blog. I wanted to be sure you were consistent with your criticism of players who deserve it. It seems as if you are.

Matt Cooke should be gone for at least the rest of the playoffs and 26 games total.

Thanks for writing an honest blog about Cooke. He really is a snake.
- mickel25

Wonder if you'd feel the same way if he had a Flyers uniform on? He's a typical Flyers type player.

Its sad the man couldnt truly change. But even the Pens had to know he wouldnt change; thats part of why they didnt resign him. Wonder if James Neal will be the next one let go by Pittsburgh? Cooke was far more productive in the postseason....

You people are hilarious. Tell Barrie to take a hit and not jump out of the way. Cookes shoulder was heading straight for Barries chest but the kid tried to get out of the way. Cookes knee was out but he didnt move it one bit Barrie did this to himself. I wish the pens kept Matt Cooke.

You people are hilarious. Tell Barrie to take a hit and not jump out of the way. Cookes shoulder was heading straight for Barries chest but the kid tried to get out of the way. Cookes knee was out but he didnt move it one bit Barrie did this to himself. I wish the pens kept Matt Cooke.
- Grinder47

typical classless penguin fan that knows nothing about hockey

You people are hilarious. Tell Barrie to take a hit and not jump out of the way. Cookes shoulder was heading straight for Barries chest but the kid tried to get out of the way. Cookes knee was out but he didnt move it one bit Barrie did this to himself. I wish the pens kept Matt Cooke.
- Grinder47

Lets review:



Sure looks like he is leading with his knee not his shoulder...leading with his shoulder would look something like this:


notice the difference on where the legs and knees are now try to say he wasn't leading with his knee.

Would like to also point out, Cooke plants his left skate as he drives forward with his knee.

He has a bad rap sheet but every hockey writer has had this article written for two years. Just insert the name of the chump who got hurt. Fact of the matter is in this case if Barrie doesn't fall down/ jump out of the way he doesn't get hurt, knee out or not. Cookes leg doesn't change coarse like with most knee on knee the guy sticks it out at the last second. Nice pictures and everything but comparing a d man stepping up on someone to a forward at mid ice hitting a d man is stupid.

Wonder if you'd feel the same way if he had a Flyers uniform on? He's a typical Flyers type player.

Its sad the man couldnt truly change. But even the Pens had to know he wouldnt change; thats part of why they didnt resign him. Wonder if James Neal will be the next one let go by Pittsburgh? Cooke was far more productive in the postseason....
- Amanion

I was really wondering if any pitt fans would come out and defend cooke like all the years he was their problem.

He has a bad rap sheet but every hockey writer has had this article written for two years. Just insert the name of the chump who got hurt. Fact of the matter is in this case if Barrie doesn't fall down/ jump out of the way he doesn't get hurt, knee out or not. Cookes leg doesn't change coarse like with most knee on knee the guy sticks it out at the last second. Nice pictures and everything but comparing a d man stepping up on someone to a forward at mid ice hitting a d man is stupid.
- Grinder47

Funny you say that since Stewie wrote about Cooke in a blog a few months ago that it was only a matter of time. And spoken like someone that never played the game before with that comment. You don't lead with you knee when you go to deliver a body check (open ice or not). You lead with your shoulder at least that's how I was taught and I am taught as an official to watch for (point of contact, leading with an elbow, knee, etc). If Cooke wasn't leading with his leg and knee it wouldn't have happened regardless if Barrie tried to side step or not Cooke would have hit him with his hip and we wouldn't be having this conversation.

I was really wondering if any pitt fans would come out and defend cooke like all the years he was their problem.
- 77emac77

Until he takes out Crosby and they scream for his head on a stake.

Until he takes out Crosby and they scream for his head on a stake.
- PeteM

that would be ultimate irony

You people are hilarious. Tell Barrie to take a hit and not jump out of the way. Cookes shoulder was heading straight for Barries chest but the kid tried to get out of the way. Cookes knee was out but he didnt move it one bit Barrie did this to himself. I wish the pens kept Matt Cooke.
- Grinder47

Your are a clown if you think that hit was legal, Typical Penguins fan who has the biggest cheapshot artist in the NHL in Neal. Look just above at the picture of Cooke leading with his shoulder. I was however OK with him leading with his head once into Evander Kane's fist which was a great thing to watch.