That's pretty impressive, trolling without sounding like a troll. It will be interesting to see if Cooke goes to free agency this summer, how many teams make him offers. I bet he gets a hell of alot more interest then all the "Matt Cooke" haters think he will. The guy is one of the best PKer in the NHL, has the ability to score 15-20 goals, and plays physical. He is a good hockey player.
- cap1681

Whenever someone starts a post with "This isn't trolling but..."

It's trolling.

Neil would not have done a thing to Sid or Geno after Murray told him he would eat his soul, he pretty much faded into the distance.
- nbartley9

or MacIntyre

Just to add to my previous comment.

Had Crosby and Malkin been in the lineup last night, Neil would have been taking runs at them. If Cooke would have stood up and faced the music, so to speak, everything probably would have ended there.

The thing is.. generally in the NHL, if you injure other team's stars and don't stand up for yourself, they will target your stars.

You can argue all you want about how it's not fair, or that Neil is a piece of s**t or whatever, but the bottom line is that is how hockey works. Even if Neil is 100% at fault for going after your stars, it's still your stars.. and you want to protect them.

Having a guy like Matt Cooke on your team only puts your best players in danger.
- Charliebox

cooke or no cooke, teams would love the chance to take out crosby or malkin with a big hit. its part of the game to get under the skin of the other teams good players

To see if my assumption that you couldn't possible be a bigger loser than you are was correct.

It was.
- canadianpenfan

Glad you weren't disappointed. Always aim to please!

Cheers!

What are you talking about.. that's all we have right now.
- Charliebox

How's Zibanejad and Turris doing? Are they legit 2nd/1st line players?

I'm not trolling I swear, but I just have a question for Pens fans.

Why would you even want Matt Cooke on your team? What benefit does he bring? If he's not a weasel anymore as you say, then what's the point? Surely, the Pens can find another guy who can PK and skate up and down the ice as well as Cooke. He hardly is the reason why the Pens are so good. On a roster with that much talent, he is easily replaceable. I'm sure everyone can agree on that...

The reason I ask is simple: Everyone knows he has a history. There are more than a few players (teams, and fan bases) in the league who absolutely detest him. Sure, he may be 'reformed', but that doesn't change what he's done in the past.. nor does it change opposing teams thoughts about him.

Let's say, for argument's sake, that he lays a huge hit, takes a cheap shot, or just does something totally reckless that injures another team's superstar in the playoffs. If he doesn't stand up for himself and turtles, like he's done in the past, what's going to happen? The other team is going to take runs at your stars, that's what. I don't think it's worth having other teams taking runs at Crosby and Malkin (who have injury histories) simply to have a 'reformed weasel' on your team.

Your stars outnumber and are better than any other team's stars, so why put them in that position?

It seems to me like the benefit of having him on your team is far exceeded by the drawbacks. In the playoffs, the Pens need guys with grit and physicality, sure, but they don't need players who have a history like his. Leave players like him for teams who are struggling to make a name for themselves.
- Charliebox

Quick answer that you aren't going to understand or agree with, so like everyone else who's replied, it's a colossal waste of everyone's time:

Besides the fact that he's completely cleaned up his game after the McDonagh hit in 2011, Cooke is a solid, contributing hockey player, is well liked by his teammates, has a good cap hit, and helps the Penguins win hockey games.

So, Chris Neil is an angle in your eyes?
- Oneonta Penguin

No.. Definetly not.. Neil makes his career on the edge. He's done alot of dumb things, but that's what happens when you play on the edge.

One has never been suspended.. the other... well you know..
One stands up for himself after borderline hits.. the other.. well you know..

Cooke is by far a better hockey player, but when it comes to character... they aren't even in the same discussion.

I don't think any hockey fan outside of Pittsburgh or Toronto (who just hate everything Ottawa) would put the two of them on the same scale.

But that's not the point of my original post. Now I'm trolling.

My point is that, to me, anyways, it's not worth it to have your best players targeted because you have a guy like him on your team (or even forcing other players to fight.. the Smith/Bortuzzo fight would have never happened if it wasn't for Cooke.. Bortuzzo can thank Cooke for those 4-5 clean shots he took).

If your team is a 4-8th seed, sure.. but the Pittsburgh freaken Penguins? The team that is going to absolutely destroy everyone in the East this year? Why bother? I dunno.. I guess it's a natural reaction to defend all your players, but a guy like Matt Cooke is so easily replaceable on a team like the Pens.

How's Zibanejad and Turris doing? Are they legit 2nd/1st line players?
- Orpik44

hahahahahaha.. NO..

Zibanejad should still be in the AHL. 2nd line center at best when he peaks.

Turris, again.. maybe a 2nd line center at best.

The only legit 1st liner the Sens have right now is Michalek.. and his knee is so messed that he is a shell of his former self.

No.. Definetly not.. Neil makes his career on the edge. He's done alot of dumb things, but that's what happens when you play on the edge.

One has never been suspended.. the other... well you know..
One stands up for himself after borderline hits.. the other.. well you know..

Cooke is by far a better hockey player, but when it comes to character... they aren't even in the same discussion.

I don't think any hockey fan outside of Pittsburgh or Toronto (who just hate everything Ottawa) would put the two of them on the same scale.

But that's not the point of my original post. Now I'm trolling.

My point is that, to me, anyways, it's not worth it to have your best players targeted because you have a guy like him on your team (or even forcing other players to fight.. the Smith/Bortuzzo fight would have never happened if it wasn't for Cooke.. Bortuzzo can thank Cooke for those 4-5 clean shots he took).

If your team is a 4-8th seed, sure.. but the Pittsburgh freaken Penguins? The team that is going to absolutely destroy everyone in the East this year? Why bother? I dunno.. I guess it's a natural reaction to defend all your players, but a guy like Matt Cooke is so easily replaceable on a team like the Pens.
- Charliebox

Is this a joke? Big Mac, Murray...remember last night?

I'm not trolling I swear, but I just have a question for Pens fans.

.
- Charliebox

I'm not a racist but...

hahahahahaha.. NO..

Zibanejad should still be in the AHL. 2nd line center at best when he peaks.

Turris, again.. maybe a 2nd line center at best.

The only legit 1st liner the Sens have right now is Michalek.. and his knee is so messed that he is a shell of his former self.
- Charliebox

I hope both can be regulars for Ottawa. Alfredsson is getting old...he should be traded next season for some assets. It's time for a "mini-rebuild".

@pgshelly: Heard Sidney Crosby feeling pretty good but there just might not be enough healing in broken jaw for him to play before playoffs. #Penguins

I hope Sid pounds Orpik's face in when he comes back for hitting him with that slapper last month. Or maybe we can bring up Big Mac to fight the puck. Freaking skunk.

You know who really needs to step up and pay for his or her crimes, whoever made Tanger the rotten shrimp roll that gave him food poisoning. They need to pay. No balls I tell you no balls at all.

I want justice for the infection that Staalsy got in the hot tub 2 years ago, the person that was responsible for cleaning that tub can expect to be beaten with a shoe.

Justice

No.. Definetly not.. Neil makes his career on the edge. He's done alot of dumb things, but that's what happens when you play on the edge.

One has never been suspended.. the other... well you know..
One stands up for himself after borderline hits.. the other.. well you know..

Cooke is by far a better hockey player, but when it comes to character... they aren't even in the same discussion.

I don't think any hockey fan outside of Pittsburgh or Toronto (who just hate everything Ottawa) would put the two of them on the same scale.

But that's not the point of my original post. Now I'm trolling.

My point is that, to me, anyways, it's not worth it to have your best players targeted because you have a guy like him on your team (or even forcing other players to fight.. the Smith/Bortuzzo fight would have never happened if it wasn't for Cooke.. Bortuzzo can thank Cooke for those 4-5 clean shots he took).

If your team is a 4-8th seed, sure.. but the Pittsburgh freaken Penguins? The team that is going to absolutely destroy everyone in the East this year? Why bother? I dunno.. I guess it's a natural reaction to defend all your players, but a guy like Matt Cooke is so easily replaceable on a team like the Pens.
- Charliebox

youre pretty much saying without cooke, guys like crosby, malkin, anf letang wouldnt be targeted in games. So Neil would play patty cake in the corner with crosby if cooke wasnt on the team?

No.. Definetly not.. Neil makes his career on the edge. He's done alot of dumb things, but that's what happens when you play on the edge.

One has never been suspended.. the other... well you know..
One stands up for himself after borderline hits.. the other.. well you know..

Cooke is by far a better hockey player, but when it comes to character... they aren't even in the same discussion.

I don't think any hockey fan outside of Pittsburgh or Toronto (who just hate everything Ottawa) would put the two of them on the same scale.

But that's not the point of my original post. Now I'm trolling.

My point is that, to me, anyways, it's not worth it to have your best players targeted because you have a guy like him on your team (or even forcing other players to fight.. the Smith/Bortuzzo fight would have never happened if it wasn't for Cooke.. Bortuzzo can thank Cooke for those 4-5 clean shots he took).

If your team is a 4-8th seed, sure.. but the Pittsburgh freaken Penguins? The team that is going to absolutely destroy everyone in the East this year? Why bother? I dunno.. I guess it's a natural reaction to defend all your players, but a guy like Matt Cooke is so easily replaceable on a team like the Pens.
- Charliebox

Doesn't mean anything that Neil hasn't been suspended. Ask Brian Boyle if Neil is dirty......

If Alfredsson was Cooke, who thinks they would have been given coincidentals last night?

I hope both can be regulars for Ottawa. Alfredsson is getting old...he should be traded next season for some assets. It's time for a "mini-rebuild".
- Orpik44

I don't think they will trade him.

IF, and I say IF, cause Spezza's injury woes scare the crap out of me, the team is 100% healthy next year, the Sens will be a contender. Not a top tier contender, but they will have an outside shot of winning the cup. If Murray can take advantage of the huge amount of cap space (and other teams freaking out, trying to get under the new cap), the Sens can add a few impact guys in the summer.

A couple roster moves at the deadline, and the Sens are right there. There's no way in hell Alfie will want to move if he has a chance at winning a cup in Ottawa.... even an outside shot.

Interesting Matt Cooke stat:

He's was drafted in the 6th round in 1997 (144 overall). Of that draft class, he is 6th in total NHL games played and 10th in total NHL goals.

Of the top 10 in total games played, he's the only one who wasn't a first round draft pick,

So, Chris Neil is an angle in your eyes?
- Oneonta Penguin

More of a square!!! JK

If your team is a 4-8th seed, sure.. but the Pittsburgh freaken Penguins? The team that is going to absolutely destroy everyone in the East this year? Why bother? I dunno.. I guess it's a natural reaction to defend all your players, but a guy like Matt Cooke is so easily replaceable on a team like the Pens.
- Charliebox

Are you also in the Blackhawk's blog asking them why they employ Carcillo?

Who says Flyers fans aren't classy

If Alfredsson was Cooke, who thinks they would have been given coincidentals last night?



- canadianpenfan

Matt Cooke as a whopping 5 more minutes in penalties this season than Daniel Alfredsson. And the only one out of those two with a major penalty is Alfredsson.

Because intentional or not, he almost ended the kids career.

And because he's a hockey player.

How many other times have we seen players step up and answer for something they did on the ice? That's one of the things I love about this game, one of the key differences between it and any other sport.
- wolfhounds

Then I hope Karlsson is man enough when we see Ottawa in the playoffs to fight Cooke.... I'm sure Cooke wouldn't mind taking their best player off the ice for 5 minutes in a playoff game.

Neil would flatten Cooke..... asking why he didn't fight is like asking why Neil was too afraid to drop the gloves with Macintyre or Murray for his forearm shiver on Despres.... it wasn't needed or required by him.

Are you also in the Blackhawk's blog asking them why they employ Carcillo?
- Rawdog9755

Maybe, but Carcillo isn't as bad as Cooke. He also scraps when he needs to.

This will be my last post.. I'm sure you're all sick of me already..

I just don't get why the BEST team in the league (when healthy, I say Pitts is much better than Chicago), employs the most hated guy in the league. It seems to be a mismatch.

Regardless of the justifications you have for Cooke or the talk about him being reformed, the fact remains that he is the most hated weasel the NHL has seen in a long time.

Then I hope Karlsson is man enough when we see Ottawa in the playoffs to fight Cooke.... I'm sure Cooke wouldn't mind taking their best player off the ice for 5 minutes in a playoff game.

Neil would flatten Cooke..... asking why he didn't fight is like asking why Neil was too afraid to drop the gloves with Macintyre or Murray for his forearm shiver on Despres.... it wasn't needed or required by him.
- Yonk1216

Ok I lied.. Stop with the Neil on Mcintyre.

Neil has showed time and time again that he will fight anyone. He's fought Chara 3x for god sakes and hasn't lost one of them.

Maybe Neil didn't fight McIntyre cause the guy isn't an NHLer. Ever think of that? Maybe Neil didn't want to break his hand (or his face) in a fight with a guy who can't play hockey? It's the same reason why other tough guys turn down fights with Kassian or McGratten. They aren't even hockey players ffs.