Matt Cooke Finally Gets What He Deserves

"The oft-penalized Cooke received the stiffest sentence yet in his 12-season NHL career when he was suspended Monday by the league for the remainder of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs for elbowing defenseman Ryan McDonagh of the New York Rangers in the head one day earlier (ESPN)."

It is about time the NHL finally did something about this guy. He has out of control. Rob wrote about it yesterday and there is really no one else in the NHL that is as bad as Cooke. This is the same guy that basically ended Savard's career, and really should've been suspended about 8 other times. Hopefully this sends a message that these kinds of hits have no place in hockey.

What I really want to see is Mario Lemieux try to void this guys contract. Mario came out earlier this season and wanted stiffer penalties for head shots. Well, Mr. Lemieux here is you chance. Do the right thing and kick this bum off your team!

Matt Cooke Strikes Again

If the NHL wants to get serious about concussions, they need to get serious about repeat offenders like Matt Cooke, who has repeatedly displayed a complete disregard for the rules, and for the health of his opponents. This isn't "reputation," this is a repeat offender. And suspending repeat offenders for 4, 6, even 8 games is insufficient.

The NHL needs to implement an escalating punishment scale for these kinds of hits. Sort of like what MLB does with steroids, or the NFL does with their "substance abuse policy." First offense, 2-4 games. Second offense 5-10 games. Third offense 10-20 games. Fourth offense is 20 to 40. Fifth offense is an 80 game suspension. Sixth offense: permanent banishment.

Now this would only be for blatantly intentional head shots like this. It wouldn't get rid of concussions in the NHL, because it's a fast paced, hard hitting game. But it might make the Matt Cookes of the world think twice before charging and elbowing a defenseless player.

And it might make Mario Lemieux think twice when assembling his team.

-The Commodore

Mario Lemieux Should Shut Up

"Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn't hockey. It was a travesty," Lemieux said. "It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that (ESPN)."

Lemieux is referencing the Islanders game when there was a ton of fights. I can agree that the fighting can get out of control, and I got back and forth on it's place in the game. Yet, the last person I want to here this from is the guy who employees Matt Cooke. Cooke is the most out of control player in the league. He ended Savard's career, and is lucky that he didn't do it the other day to another player. I mean what a joke. If you want to make these kinds of comments they cut the "dirty" players from your team.

Again, I understand the argument against fighting and in a lot of ways I'll agree, but don't sit here and lecture the NHL when you have the biggest villain in the NHL on your team.