Lemieux has a perfect opportunity today

[elocomotive]

It's pretty rare that an owner has an opportunity this perfect to do something that would build his respect with fans around the league, garner support for his own proposed rule, and do something that his own fans would respect and appreciate as well. Lemeiux has that chance today.

Pens Fans
It seems that this latest incident from Cooke has pushed many fans from reluctant support or disapproving but hopeful support to outright rage, and widespread recognition of how it hurts their own team. This is not to say plenty of Pens' fans disliked Matt Cooke before this latest incident and it's hard for any fan to completely hate on even the most villainous of players when they are on your team, but this latest hit seems to have solidly and forcefully pushed the meter on Cooke to the "get rid of this piece of s" position.

Skepticism of Lemieux's Position
While few would disagree with the spirit of Lemieux's statements after the Islanders' game or the ideas behind the rule he has proposed, many viewed them with skepticism because of the seeming self-serving nature and timing of the statement and rule proposal. Convenient to chastise the "state of the game" after you end up on the short end of a brawl while employing a player as hated as Matt Cooke.

Conclusion
It seems this is a year when the Pens have little chance of bringing home a Cup and more poignantly, unclear if losing Matt Cooke for the rest of the season would have any detrimental effect on the team. The fans are behind getting rid of him. Fans of other teams would be happy to see justice served.

If Mario was smart, he would suspend him for the rest of the year + playoffs and tell the league he's happy for it to coincide or tack on to any penalty they decide to impose. He could even go a step further and donate an amount of money equivalent to what the team's fine would be under his own proposal to someone or some organization doing research on concussions.

It seems to me he has a rare opportunity to do something that would return dividends with fans of his own team and around the league, while doing little or nothing to hurt his own franchise or his interests.

Your move, Mario. Make the easy play.

 

[sbb122]

Souces close to the situation have let it be known to Cooke and his agent, the Penguins will offer no support at all to Cooke. The report i read also said they want the NHL to hit him long and hard.

What i read between the lines was, if the NHL drops the ball on this one, Lemieux, Burkle, Morehouse and Shero will take definitive action.

 

[higgyfan4]

Souces close to the situation have let it be known to Cooke and his agent, the Penguins will offer no support at all to Cooke. The report i read also said they want the NHL to hit him long and hard.

What i read between the lines was, if the NHL drops the ball on this one, Lemieux, Burkle, Morehouse and Shero will take definitive action.

Good for them. Smart move on the part of the organization. I seen a quote from Blysma earlier and you could tell he was fed up with the bullshit as well.

 

[loki604]

Wouldn't the NHLPA have something to say if Cooke gets an additional suspension from the team?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Wouldn't the NHLPA have something to say if Cooke gets an additional suspension from the team?

i dont think they can play that type of card for your reason ... i think theyd just waive him if they felt as strongly as they have been speaking publically

 

[loki604]

Also told by several within organizatio that hope is league comes down hard on Cooke.
4 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

Rob Rossi

 

[elocomotive]

i dont think they can play that type of card for your reason ... i think theyd just waive him if they felt as strongly as they have been speaking publically

So they can't suspend him at all as a team?

Hmmm... wish I'd known that before writing the post. hahaha.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Kypreos twitter

I'm told #Pens Mario/Cooke had spoken at great length yesterday and was basically told to change the way he plays or leave.

 

[dash]

So they can't suspend him at all as a team?

Hmmm... wish I'd known that before writing the post. hahaha.

Not officially...They can list him as a healthy scratch for games, but with the Pens current injury situation, the optics of that wouldn't look good (you wonder if the NHLPA would step in on behalf of Cooke).

If the Pens truly want to rid themselves of Matt Cooke, you waive him and see if any other team wants to take him.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Not officially...They can list him as a healthy scratch for games, but with the Pens current injury situation, the optics of that wouldn't look good (you wonder if the NHLPA would step in on behalf of Cooke).

If the Pens truly want to rid themselves of Matt Cooke, you waive him and see if any other team wants to take him.

i think theres a conduct detrimental to the league clause in the SPC but dash is right ... a team imposed suspension is basically a non-starter in the NHLPA's eyes ... if a member has loss of income on the line, the NHLPA will fight for that player

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Cooke's hit was every bit as dirty as the Gillies hit on Tangradi. In fact, you could argue that the Gillies hit was a little more timely in the action of the play. I know Gillies did a lot of other shit that game, but what did he get again, 9 games??? I imagine Cooke will get at least that because of his "repeat offender" status.

Players need to be suspended on the act, not the result. This is why Martin deserved more than he got.

 

[ELYEAH82]

Cooke's hit was every bit as dirty as the Gillies hit on Tangradi. In fact, you could argue that the Gillies hit was a little more timely in the action of the play. I know Gillies did a lot of other shit that game, but what did he get again, 9 games??? I imagine Cooke will get at least that because of his "repeat offender" status.

Players need to be suspended on the act, not the result. This is why Martin deserved more than he got.

Seriously...I really hate Cooke but this and the Gillies situation would only be equal if Cooke start punching the guy after the elbow. And on his way to the locker room was tormenting the guy as a trainer worked on him.

 

[Jared]

Players need to be suspended on the act, not the result.

Disagree. Kinda.

I think players should be suspended on the act. But if that act results in an injury, additional time should be tacked on. As far as the Gillies situation, and taunting (so it appears) an injured player while he's getting medical attention, I don't even know what to say. I think the 7th circle of hell is reserved for that guy.

 

[elocomotive]

I think the 7th circle of hell is reserved for that guy.

That's nice. Matt Cooke and Sean Avery will have a third for pick-up games.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Seriously...I really hate Cooke but this and the Gillies situation would only be equal if Cooke start punching the guy after the elbow. And on his way to the locker room was tormenting the guy as a trainer worked on him.

I am referring to the hit alone, not all the post-hit action involved. The hit is very similar.

 

[ELYEAH82]

I am referring to the hit alone, not all the post-hit action involved. The hit is very similar.

But I dont think the hit was where the 9 games came from. It was probably the start, but the rest of the situation was probably where most of the suspension came from IMO

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

But I dont think the hit was where the 9 games came from. It was probably the start, but the rest of the situation was probably where most of the suspension came from IMO

I know, i was not really saying that it was a tic for tic analysis, more of a running train of thought....i think he gets 9 or 10 because of his repeat offender status. This would be his 4th career suspenseion, all from the last 3 seasons if I am correct.

 

[ELYEAH82]

I know, i was not really saying that it was a tic for tic analysis, more of a running train of thought....i think he gets 9 or 10 because of his repeat offender status. This would be his 4th career suspenseion, all from the last 3 seasons if I am correct.

I hope he gets the season. I dont want him anywhere near the roster come playoff time

 

[SLY]

I hope he gets the season. I dont want him anywhere near the roster come playoff time

Me too or else my avy is gonna smell and look like shit for a week.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Me too or else my avy is gonna smell and look like shit for a week.

Does that mean you're going to post a picture of yourself in the Rangers uniform you haven't washed in a year?