guys, conversation is a good one, please remember everyone is entitled to their opinions, even if they differ from yours. Refrain from making what might be incendiary comments about the guys that are here all the time and to new readers etc. who are welcome. Stick to the facts, as good arguments are happening and no need for the other stuff here. And none of the, he started it... please
- airjan23

"Incendiary" defintion: 1. Producing intensely hot fire, as a miltary weapon. 2. Of or involving arson. 3. Tending to inflame.

Look at Jan trying to make the Canuck fan feel at home!

Moondog, I completely apologize, but I just couldn't resist.

Good point CharlieBox. I have a seriosu question for you. Not trying goad you, but imagine this is Sean Avery and he was the one who stoped Karlsson. Imagine the public out cry for his head on a stick. I bet it would be everywhere, just want to gt your thoughts on it.
- tomburton99

I don't know, I think Cooke has the worst reputation you can have. I can only compare this with how I feel Kaleta would be looked at in this situation. While I personally wouldn't put it past Kaleta to do something like this, I believe it would be the same message from the media.

I don't know, I think Cooke has the worst reputation you can have. I can only compare this with how I feel Kaleta would be looked at in this situation. While I personally wouldn't put it past Kaleta to do something like this, I believe it would be the same message from the media.
- JCSabs06

Completely respect this opinion. See what us haockey fans can do when we don't insult each other.

I honestly think if that was anybody besides Cooke I would feel the same. The motion Cooke makes with his leg is all I need to see. Intent is clearly their in my mind.

Good point CharlieBox. I have a seriosu question for you. Not trying goad you, but imagine this is Sean Avery and he was the one who stoped Karlsson. Imagine the public out cry for his head on a stick. I bet it would be everywhere, just want to gt your thoughts on it.
- tomburton99

I don't see Avery as a psycho. I just think he's a really troubled, selfish, individual.

There isn't one player in this league anywhere near Cooke's status. Even Ulf Samuelsson, in his day, wouldn't compare to the level of evil that Cooke seems to have in him.

I've seen him laugh after kneeing guys or giving them headshots.

Most players feel pretty bad if they take someone out long term. poop, I remember when Hossa caught Berard in the face on his follow through. Eventhough it was completely accidental, it took Hossa a full year to get back to the level he was playing at before the incident. In interviews, he was visibly shaken.

For Cooke, it's just another day at the office.

I don't see Avery as a psycho. I just think he's a really troubled, selfish, individual.

There isn't one player in this league anywhere near Cooke's status. Even Ulf Samuelsson, in his day, wouldn't compare to the level of evil that Cooke seems to have in him.

I've seen him laugh after kneeing guys or giving them headshots.

Most players feel pretty bad if they take someone out long term. poop, I remember when Hossa caught Berard in the face on his follow through. Eventhough it was completely accidental, it took Hossa a full year to get back to the level he was playing at before the incident. In interviews, he was visibly shaken.

For Cooke, it's just another day at the office.
- Charliebox

Ok, thank you. Just wanted some feedback. I agree with you I honestly think Cooke knew what he was doing and he no other thought than "Skate to Achilles."

Ok, thank you. Just wanted some feedback. I agree with you I honestly think Cooke knew what he was doing and he no other thought than "Skate to Achilles."
- tomburton99

See I don't think he meant to put it there.

It was more AFTER it was on his achilles, what was Cooke thinking? People say, 'it happened too fast for him to have intent, it was just reactionary'. But IMO, that only strengthens the argument that he meant to do it.

99% of players first reaction would be to try to get your foot off there as quickly as possible. They would have to think about actually trying to do damage.

In the case of a psycho like Cooke, it's the opposite. His natural reaction would be to slice down with his skate and hurt karlsson. He would have to think to refrain from hurting someone.

Since there was no time to think, my gut feeling is that once his skate was on Karlsson, he knew exactly what he was doing.

I don't see Avery as a psycho. I just think he's a really troubled, selfish, individual.

There isn't one player in this league anywhere near Cooke's status. Even Ulf Samuelsson, in his day, wouldn't compare to the level of evil that Cooke seems to have in him. I've seen him laugh after kneeing guys or giving them headshots.

Most players feel pretty bad if they take someone out long term. poop, I remember when Hossa caught Berard in the face on his follow through. Eventhough it was completely accidental, it took Hossa a full year to get back to the level he was playing at before the incident. In interviews, he was visibly shaken.

For Cooke, it's just another day at the office.
- Charliebox

Oh I don't know, Chris Simon didn't seem that mentally stable to me either...

Hey man, I'll agree that Cooke 's history is one to be frowned upon. But when he cleaned his game up 2 years ago after the Savard incident, he actually garnered some respect for doing it, and doing it successfully.

To be now blames for an accidental play is unfair.
- moondawg

Completely agree with you. That was an every-game play. Unlucky that's all. Cooke is clean. CLEAN

Completely agree with you. That was an every-game play. Unlucky that's all. Cooke is clean. CLEAN
- Orpik44

why does Cooke bring his left leg down with force?

why not just put it down, like always happens on a "every-game play"?

See I don't think he meant to put it there.

It was more AFTER it was on his achilles, what was Cooke thinking? People say, 'it happened too fast for him to have intent, it was just reactionary'. But IMO, that only strengthens the argument that he meant to do it.

99% of players first reaction would be to try to get your foot off there as quickly as possible. They would have to think about actually trying to do damage.

In the case of a psycho like Cooke, it's the opposite. His natural reaction would be to slice down with his skate and hurt karlsson. He would have to think to refrain from hurting someone.

Since there was no time to think, my gut feeling is that once his skate was on Karlsson, he knew exactly what he was doing.
- Charliebox

This is what I've been trying to tell people too, this is in his nature. This is the only way he knows how play. While it's great that he's cut his PIMs down, he will never be able to completely change the way he goes into every game mentally prepared to ruin the opposition.

Amazingly, the two worst injuries directly caused by Matt Cooke: Marc Savard's and Erik Karlsson's, he didn't get suspended for either one.

it's unbelievable

Completely agree with you. That was an every-game play. Unlucky that's all. Cooke is clean. CLEAN
- Orpik44

Just when we were almost off topic......

Please name One other star player than Karlsson and Savard that Cooke has caused injury too. And no Ansimov and McDonough aren't stars.
- moondawg

Matt Cooke ended Savards career. He's the reason why Savard is no longer playing.
Since when is it OK to end players careers? And oh ya injuring the past Norris champ!

I'm not sure where I go on this but when you say "name one star player that Cooke has caused Injury to" that's 2 too many dumbass!

why does Cooke bring his left leg down with force?

why not just put it down, like always happens on a "every-game play"?
- jimbro83

If Cooke can make a decision in under a second to bring his foot down inside his skate, then he has superhuman reflexes. Stop watching it in slo-mo

If Cooke can make a decision in under a second to bring his foot down inside his skate, then he has superhuman reflexes. Stop watching it in slo-mo
- cap1681

no

Completely agree with you. That was an every-game play. Unlucky that's all. Cooke is clean. CLEAN
- Orpik44

no
- jimbro83

See, that shows your looking for it to be intentional. It was a freak accident. Matt Cooke has done some stupid, dirty things in the past, and a year and 14 games still hasn't taken the "dirtiest player in the league" moniker away from him, but he did nothing wrong last night. Sucks it happened, because i like Karlsson.

Stay classy San Diego

If Cooke can make a decision in under a second to bring his foot down inside his skate, then he has superhuman reflexes. Stop watching it in slo-mo
- cap1681

Why don't you respond to the point about what he was doing AFTER it was on karlsson's flesh?

That's my point of contention. Why did he bring it down on an angle and with the force he did? The vast majority of other players would have tried like hell to get it off there without doing any damage.

At best it was a completely careless act. At worst, he had full intent.

Chances are, it falls somewhere between the two.

I still say the Graves on Lemieux play was an everyday play that went bad too but that argument doesn't hold water according to you guys...remember, those were days when you were allowed to tap the other player's gloves with your stick...
- Blueshirts4ever

C'mon, really??? He baseball swung at him.

why does Cooke bring his left leg down with force?

why not just put it down, like always happens on a "every-game play"?
- jimbro83

I'm going to go with A) Gravity, and B) The bodies natural instinct to stay upright. But I know this is a Ranger board where gravity, sanity and logic are completely lost.

Why don't you respond to the point about what he was doing AFTER it was on karlsson's flesh?

That's my point of contention. Why did he bring it down on an angle and with the force he did? The vast majority of other players would have tried like hell to get it off there without doing any damage.

At best it was a completely careless act. At worst, he had full intent.

Chances are, it falls somewhere between the two.
- Charliebox

He hit McDonagh in the exact way he hit Savard, he is underhanded and cheap, why anyone defends this guy is beyond me...go back and look at the video while savard was being tended to, he was banging his stick on the ice when Savard was being carted off then goes and attempts the same exact thing on McDonagh...so after a year and a half he is supposed ot be squeaky clean? please...once a cheap shot artist alewqays a cheap shot artist...like i said the only thing Shanhan spared us was another public statement made by Mario Lemieux...there is one silver lining...

C'mon, really??? He baseball swung at him.
- cap1681

And Cooke curb stomped Karlsson's ankle.

Wanna know why people are questioning the play? Because its Matt Cooke. And Matt Cooke is a (frank)ing dipshit cheap shot artist.
If someone like Martin did that then people wouldn't question. It's what happens when you have a rep. Nobody knows if he did it on purpose, and Matt Cooke sure as hell won't say he did it on purpose!
I suppose he didn't mean to knee Ovechkin, headshot McD, or kill Savard either?

Dirtiest (frank)ing team in the league is the Pens. Nobody comes close. Philly is probably 28th and not even close to as dirty as you guys are
- FLYERSROCK!

Lets not forget Flyers history.

I would love for someone to ask Matt Cooke in an interview if he'd have the guts to play the game the way he does without a visor.