What other accidents has Cooke been involved in? I don't recall him having any other "accidental" dirty plays since his "come to Jesus redemption" after ending Savard's career. The rest of that stuff wasn't accidental, just dirty plays by an a$$hole that doesn't respect his fellow player. Not making any excuses for him, once a cement head usually always a cement head, but his slate has been pretty clean since Savard unless there are incidents I'm forgetting.

The commentary on him being a wreckless idiot for having his skate in the air and pinning Karlsson is laughable. Watch the first period tonight and you will see that a handful of times by both teams. Using your leg to pin a guy on the boards is neither dumb or wreckless, just a hockey play.

Cooke was a scumbag for most of his early career and I am not even sure he is reformed now. But that play the other night wasn't intentional. As mentioned before he wasn't even looking down at Karlsson's leg and the precision of the angle needed to hit Karlsson in the right spot to get inside the back of the skate boot and get to the Achilles would be hard to do if Cooke was staring at the target. Unfortunate accident to a great young player but I don't see how that was intentional.
- PhatJoeSki

Agreed. Guy was a complete dirtbag early in his career, but that doesn't mean anything vis a vis this play.

Found the Cooke rap sheet from the Ottawa Sun

A look at some previous controversial incidents involving Matt Cooke:

Feb. 21, 2004: As a member of the Vancouver Canucks, suspended two games for spearing the Minnesota Wild's Ryan Johnson.
April 3, 2008: Tampa Bay Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier requires shoulder surgery after being hit by Cooke, then a member of the Washington Capitals. Cooke is fined $2,500.
Jan. 20, 2009: As a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins (his current team), Cooke suspended two games for hit to the head of Carolina Hurricanes' Scott Walker.
Nov. 28, 2009: Suspended two games for hit to the head of New York Rangers' Artem Anisimov.
March 7, 2010: Blindside hit on Marc Savard causes concussion for Bruins centre. Cooke is not suspended. Savard has not played since 2010-11, dealing with headaches and concussions. His playing career may be over.
Feb. 9, 2011: Suspended four games for hit from behind on Columbus Blue Jackets' Fedor Tyutin.
March 20, 2011: Suspended 10 games and for the first round of the playoffs after elbow to the head of New York Rangers' Ryan McDonagh.
Feb. 13, 2013: Skate to the blade of Senators' Erik Karlsson's left leg severs star defenceman's Achilles tendon.
- philco28

Forgot his redemption didn't come after the Savard hit but rather the McDonagh hit but I kind of think we're on the same page. I don't think any of those were "accident-on-purpose" hits, just on the surface dirty plays disrespectful of his peers and I completely agree with your terminology for him.

When I think of dirty plays deigned to look like "accidents" I always think of Doan. I can't count how many times he does something to an opposing player and then comes back with that look of indignation like "Me??? You think I did that on purpose" after he slew-footed another unexpecting opponent or speared them in the wedding tackle. Yet somehow he's been knighted as this classy veteran when in fact he is one of the nastiest guys in the league (and not that I think that is all bad).

Found the Cooke rap sheet from the Ottawa Sun

A look at some previous controversial incidents involving Matt Cooke:

Feb. 21, 2004: As a member of the Vancouver Canucks, suspended two games for spearing the Minnesota Wild's Ryan Johnson.
April 3, 2008: Tampa Bay Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier requires shoulder surgery after being hit by Cooke, then a member of the Washington Capitals. Cooke is fined $2,500.
Jan. 20, 2009: As a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins (his current team), Cooke suspended two games for hit to the head of Carolina Hurricanes' Scott Walker.
Nov. 28, 2009: Suspended two games for hit to the head of New York Rangers' Artem Anisimov.
March 7, 2010: Blindside hit on Marc Savard causes concussion for Bruins centre. Cooke is not suspended. Savard has not played since 2010-11, dealing with headaches and concussions. His playing career may be over.
Feb. 9, 2011: Suspended four games for hit from behind on Columbus Blue Jackets' Fedor Tyutin.
March 20, 2011: Suspended 10 games and for the first round of the playoffs after elbow to the head of New York Rangers' Ryan McDonagh.
Feb. 13, 2013: Skate to the blade of Senators' Erik Karlsson's left leg severs star defenceman's Achilles tendon.
- philco28

Wonder how many times Gordie Howe would have been guilty of this.

The NHL is the one embarrasing itself, not me. Do you think that Cooke did nothing wrong on that check?
- powerenforcer

Your ridiculous and never played the sport if you think he did that on purpose.

Well, the league just set it's line with no suspension to Cooke. I look for every game to have at least 1 player injured from now on. Ryan got a free shot at Craw, Cooke at Karlsson. I would be shocked if Joe doesn't go after toews again tonight.
- powerenforcer

Cooke did not deserve a suspension and Ryan was pushed by Seabs and went flying up and over to avoid Crawford. It was not a free shot!!

Yep, i'd definitely side with the 'it wasn't intentional' viewpoint. Just amazing that this guy finds himself in the middle of these things time after time.
- philco28

that is a fair point with guys like Cook

pointed out by the Preds announcers last nite that some of the Pred D-men were wearing protective gear around the high ankle in light of the Karlson injury.

What is surprising and very glad that this is so is that more skate slashing injurys don't occur with the way guys fly around on the ice

pointed out by the Preds announcers last nite that some of the Pred D-men were wearing protective gear around the high ankle in light of the Karlson injury.

What is surprising and very glad that this is so is that more skate slashing injurys don't occur with the way guys fly around on the ice
- bogiedoc

Apparently they have Kevlar socks, which may be very uncomfortable and heavy, but they don't provide complete protection.

If Kevlar can stop a bullet, why not a skate blade? I'm no chemist/physicist/any other kind of "-ist" who would know.

Apparently they have Kevlar socks, which may be very uncomfortable and heavy, but they don't provide complete protection.

If Kevlar can stop a bullet, why not a skate blade? I'm no chemist/physicist/any other kind of "-ist" who would know.
- StLBravesFan

They aren't bad at all. Bauer makes one that is something like 80% kevlar (I think I got them for $25) and they really aren't that bad. Pretty easy to get used to.

Apparently they have Kevlar socks, which may be very uncomfortable and heavy, but they don't provide complete protection.

If Kevlar can stop a bullet, why not a skate blade? I'm no chemist/physicist/any other kind of "-ist" who would know.
- StLBravesFan

Bauer makes them, interesting feel to say the least. They dont hug your feet so much and the Kevlar infused fabric is another layer of protection. It's so rare seeing an injury like that, and i hate that it happened to such a young blossoming talent like Karlsson.

They aren't bad at all. Bauer makes one that is something like 80% kevlar (I think I got them for $25) and they really aren't that bad. Pretty easy to get used to.
- HawkFan27

The Bauer socks aren't too terrible (unless you usually skate sockless as I do) and the wrist protection is nice too. Probably not needed for mens' league but if you were still playing competitively I'd say its worth it.

The Bauer socks aren't too terrible (unless you usually skate sockless as I do) and the wrist protection is nice too. Probably not needed for mens' league but if you were still playing competitively I'd say its worth it.
- PhatJoeSki

I've always skated with a knee high sock so it was a pretty easy transition. I have never gone the route of wrist guards though, which wouldn't be a bad idea but I feel like it would take a lot of getting used to.

The Bauer socks aren't too terrible (unless you usually skate sockless as I do) and the wrist protection is nice too. Probably not needed for mens' league but if you were still playing competitively I'd say its worth it.
- PhatJoeSki

Still play in the Chicago area?

Apparently they have Kevlar socks, which may be very uncomfortable and heavy, but they don't provide complete protection.

If Kevlar can stop a bullet, why not a skate blade? I'm no chemist/physicist/any other kind of "-ist" who would know.
- StLBravesFan

Speed skaters apparently wear them so they can't be too inhibiting. Probs requires adjustments to skate fit and a "break in" or "getting used to" period.

Here's opinions from two of our favourite conference friends.

http://www.freep.com/arti...t%7CDetroit%20Red%20Wings

Looks like some cyclocross athletes use kevlar gloves and sockshttp://www.thescore.com/nhl/articles/441551-canucks-say-karlsson-s-injury-preventable-with-kevlar-socks


Edit: Kevlar as sock vs kevlar as a vest is a little different in terms of how you can make the material. A sock has to conform to the leg and stretch a bit and also allow for movement of the ankle and toes so it cant be as dense. The denser the fabric the better it stops stuff.

If that same play happes almost every game, why are more players not getting their achilles sliced like Karlsson did? No player lifts his skate and steps down on another player like Cooke did. What are you fools missing? It was deliberate intent to injure.
- powerenforcer

Piling on...no way was that intentional.

If this is what's in your yard then you're not being tough on beavers but nutrias.
The tail is the give away.

- Beaver-Warrior

Yo Beav...no Nutria this far north as of yet. Muskrat and Beaver yes.

Still play in the Chicago area?
- nickmo2699

Not as much as I'd like to but yeah. Staring down the barrel of my first year eligible for the 30 and over league. Pretty depressing.

Not as much as I'd like to but yeah. Staring down the barrel of my first year eligible for the 30 and over league. Pretty depressing.
- PhatJoeSki

Slow down with that kind of talk, Joe.

Concussion effect each individual differently. Some are effected right then and there other won't feel symptoms for as much as two days later......possibly more.
- UnnamedSource

He could have felt like he had a headache afterward, and then had re-occuring headaches.

Play will go on,

and the team get stronger around his absence, or not.

There will not be a goalie trade, as that happened to secure Karlsson, which looks like a smart move now that Calgary could have usesd him as well.

Sadly, concussions are part of the game.

Concussion effect each individual differently. Some are effected right then and there other won't feel symptoms for as much as two days later......possibly more.
- UnnamedSource

If Crawford suffered a concussion he must not have thought he had one until after prcatice on Thursday.

If this is what's in your yard then you're not being tough on beavers but nutrias.
The tail is the give away.

- Beaver-Warrior

What you don't know Beav is that with this pic and the topic, it is hilarious..I feel like I am actually talking to a Beaver. Like I am high or something. I hope you think this is funny too...

The NHL is the one embarrasing itself, not me. Do you think that Cooke did nothing wrong on that check?
- powerenforcer

Embarassingly, Cooke did nothing wrong on that play, that wasn't down a dozen times in that very game by other players on both sides...it's the knee to the ass for the pin to the boards...

There is no way Cooke could have conceived this action, as his motion and head was looking/going the other way.

I am all for stronger protection there, softer shoulder pads...maybe a little more weight will slow players down a bit...

Apparently they have Kevlar socks, which may be very uncomfortable and heavy, but they don't provide complete protection.

If Kevlar can stop a bullet, why not a skate blade? I'm no chemist/physicist/any other kind of "-ist" who would know.
- StLBravesFan

As far as I know there no cut proof socks being worn but there are socks that make it more difficult to get to the skin.

The other thing that contributes to the achilles being vulnerable is the way players wear there skates and many don't get taped...

Embarassingly, Cooke did nothing wrong on that play, that wasn't down a dozen times in that very game by other players on both sides...it's the knee to the ass for the pin to the boards...

There is no way Cooke could have conceived this action, as his motion and head was looking/going the other way.

I am all for stronger protection there, softer shoulder pads...maybe a little more weight will slow players down a bit...
- wiz1901

Would not mind seeing the red-line brought back into play.

Would not mind seeing the red-line brought back into play.
- fattybeef

But that would mean we would see....defense....as a part of the game again. God forbid we ever see 2-1 or 1-0 games. It will just destroy the sport.