Cookie Monster: Giving props to Matt Cooke

by Hooks Orpik on Nov 24, 2009 8:00 AM EST Comment 20 comments

Gene J. Puskar - AP

Matt Cooke doing what it takes, back in March of 2009.

In a season where the Pittsburgh has had very few constants, checking winger Matt Cooke has been one. Sure, he's one of only nine Pens to play all 24 games, but it goes a lot further than that. Cooke's not a standout player in this league, he's merely a cog in the machine. But the Penguins are doing very well in some categories where the Cookie Monster is a major contributor, and that's no coincidence. For instance:

The Penguins have the 6th best penalty kill in the NHL, currently at 83.0%. It all boils down to the goalie on the PK, but you have to give a lot of credit to where it starts -- the fowards. mainly Jordan Staal (3:02 SH time per game), Cooke (2:47), Craig Adams (2:47) and Pascal Dupuis (2:15) are doing some good work. Cooke's up quite a bit from his 2008-09 season average of 1:41 per game and a big reason why the penalty kill has been so good.

Pittsburgh is #2 in the NHL in hits with 659 bashes so far. Think that's due to a home-ice statistician advantage? Think again: Pittsburgh is #1 in the NHL with 345 recorded road hits. Gotta credit to the top players here: Cooke (72), Adams (67), Brooks Orpik (64), and Mike Rupp (55). Again, the fore-check proves it's worth and Cooke is leading the charge here.

Cooke's been effective in more than just the flashy hits. He's tied with Adams with 19 blocked shots (most among Pittsburgh forwards) and Cooke's fifth among Penguins in takeaways (with 10).

Aside from the dirty work, let's talk points. Matt Cooke has 11 points in 24 games, on pace for 37 points, his best since his career year in 2002-03 with Vancouver when he had 42. Perhaps more impressive is how he's getting them: the dirty way (you expected less?). Ten of Cooke's points have come at even strength, tied with Evgeni Malkin for third on the team --behind franchise centers Sidney Crosby (15) and frequent Cooke linemate Jordan Staal (11).

Perhaps the ultimate compliment to Cooke is this: playing on a Stanley Cup winning team that does a lot of the little things right, it's hard to find someone that does more of them than Cooke. He hits, he kills penalties, he blocks shots, he takes the puck away, he scores at even strength.

Announcers like to say that teams can't win without the role players playing well. Matt Cooke is playing superbly right now. Thanks to guys like him, Pittsburgh is in first place in the Conference once again.

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I agree props to Matt Cooke. The only thing fans around the NHL look at with Cooke are the dirty things he does. Which ,no doubt, theres plenty of examples to look at. Cooke tho exemplifies what a “grinder” should be. Great forechecker, good hitter and when the third line is intact, no doubt Cookie can play. Great fit for this team and I think he might be an exception to the Shero model come this offseason. Since Shero took over its been 2yr deal and then your gone for guys like Cooke. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sticks around after this season.

by genomachine-O on Nov 24, 2009 8:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

As long as he realizes his worth and doesn’t want an above market deal. Shero seems to have a range of what he will pay a player of this type. Cooke will not get an above market deal like Dupuis.

by Ulf Murphy on Nov 24, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking the same thing… that I would love to see Cooke resign… they should be able to work-out a deal in the 1,0 – 1,2 mil. range

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Nov 25, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Adams second on the team on hits? Interesting!

by DigitalGypsy66 on Nov 24, 2009 9:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not that surprising, he is very active on the forecheck which leads to many opportunities and goals (Like TK’s GWG against the Cryers).

There is a knack to flying: it's learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

by Sid the captain on Nov 24, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Adams only had 53 hits in his 36 games in Chicago last season, I think he’s really made it a point to play physical, a lot of it getting involved on the forecheck like StC said.

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Nov 24, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Matt Cooke needs a severe beating. We should just forget about his douchebaggery and the dirty hits he goes around throwing, eh? All because he’s a great penalty killer and a solid forechecker. Right on, guys.

Cooke’s forever been a guy who, as the Vancouver Sun noted, rarely backs up his pathetic antics. I was more than glad to see Kovalchuk drop the gloves and take a few shots at him. Lord knows the only guy Cooke is probably willing to fight is Atlanta’s leading scorer, and one of the more talented guys in the league.

Enjoy the blog here, you guys run a tight ship, but I’ve got no time of day for a player like Matt Cooke.

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by eyebleaf on Nov 24, 2009 11:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Cooke also inspires that reaction from opposing players and fans. He’s a sandpaper guy and if he’s not on your team you hate him. If that wasn’t the case, he wouldn’t be doing his job.

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Nov 24, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he’s the classic “hate this guy unless he’s on our team” player. kind of the opposite of what Chris Bourque is to me.

by AronV on Nov 24, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It was the same thing with Ruutu, Barnaby, Kasparitis – when they were Pens you loved em. The second they left town you started saying, “Oh you better watch out for THIS guy.” Just how it goes I guess.

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by FrankD on Nov 24, 2009 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

aaah… Barnaby and Kasparaitis… good ol’ times…:)

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Nov 25, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno. I can appreciate his forechecking, messy goals, and blocked shots, but I cringe every time the cameras catch him laying a cheap hit on someone. Against the Thrashers the Atlanta TV feed caught Cooke cross-checking Kovalchuk in the back nowhere near the play, which is what led to the fight. That’s just bad hockey, and I just can’t look the other way when he does stuff like that.

Luckily he’s a useful role player otherwise. It’s not like he’s Dan Carcillo.

by shayborg on Nov 24, 2009 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup, he definitely inspires that sort of reaction. Loved him on Vancouver (for similar reasons you guys love him now) and when the Pens and Canucks played last year he got a misconduct in the opening two minutes I think (along with Jannik Hansen) and I was back to hating him. Some players are just like that.

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by Yankee Canuck on Nov 24, 2009 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

@eyebleaf- seems to me you just perfectly described Matt Cookes job. Forecheck, hit, kill penalties and IRRIATE the hell out of the other team. Thats what he gets paid for. its pretty easy to criticize the guy after he left. I could sit here and say the same about Ruutu, but i understand the fact that, thats what his job was.

by genomachine-O on Nov 24, 2009 2:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

So you’re saying there’s no difference between irritating the opposition, and playing dirty hockey? You want to play dirty, fine. Back it up. Be a man.

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where unabashed homerism is alive and well...

PLAYOFFS!!!!1

by eyebleaf on Nov 24, 2009 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

isn’t it irritating that he rarely fights….it’s all part of the mystique. I’m going to dislike him very much when he inevitably moves to another team.

by AronV on Nov 24, 2009 5:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He does his job well.

I’ll admit bias where it is due, but the majority of what gets called dirty in reference to Cooke is nonsense. The hit on Donovan was clean, and the so-called “slew foot” on Kovulchuk was nothing more than a shove.
He’s an agitator that plays on the edge, but because he’s not a superstar, he’s “dirty.”
He’s a role player. He’s a grinder. He may not be blessed with great hands, but he’s a damn good hockey player.

by eurydice_krg on Nov 24, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Very true, Ovechkin, Crosby, they both have dirty aspects to their game, as well as tons of other stars. Shoot, Bobby Hull anyone?

by Phantaskippy on Nov 25, 2009 4:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cooke really has played great, Rupp and Adams too. It’s amazing how well the role players are playing, esp. after Scuderi, Talbot, and Adams were the stars of the finals last year.

by Phantaskippy on Nov 25, 2009 4:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agitating is one thing. Consistent cheap shots (like leading with the knee, etc.) are another. Any of Matt Cooke’s good qualities will always be tarnished by the fact that he’s prone to breaking the rules more than some of the time. Even by saying “Matt Cooke’s just doing his job”… what does that say about your team that they pay a guy simply because a large part of his game is playing dirty?

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by aaron b on Nov 25, 2009 2:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs