Sunday links -- Matt Cooke to be suspended? Gonchar and Pens at odds? Bill Guerin's effort too low?

by Hooks Orpik on Nov 29, 2009 11:50 AM EST Comment 28 comments

Check out 2:35 of the youtube. "It's f-in hat night", the new "it's the f-in Catalina wine mixer"? [Three Rivers Blog]

TSN insider Bob McKenzie says that the league may review Matt Cooke's hit on Artem Anisimov last night for possible suspension or fine. [Twitter account]

Empty Netters takes a hard line on Cooke and says he deserves suspended. Given that the hit was away from the play, targeted the head and the offender's last name is Cooke, I have to agree that discipline could and probably should be on the way. [Empty Netters]

The Confluence takes a look at the fine line Cooke walks, and occasionally crosses. [Kuklas Korner]

Stats and details on the Penguins success in the first 25 game segment of the season. [Tribune Review]

The same clown from Ottawa who said the Penguins were preparing to trade Evgeni Malkin (two weeks before they re-signed him) says that the Penguins and Sergei Gonchar aren't agreeing on extension figures. [Ottawa Sun]

I'm guessing the odds you see an article on Puck Prospectus this week about Sidney Crosby hurting the Penguins is pretty low. [Puck Prospectus]

Faceoff Factor calls out Bill Guerin's effort. I don't see it, Guerin's got six points (3g, 3a) in the last eight games, including that last second buzzer beater. 39 year old players don't play like they're 19 or 29, gotta save a little in the tank for the long haul. [Faceoff Factor]

Craig Rivet and Max Talbot frienemy Dan Carcillo had quite the series of fights. [Puck Daddy]

Crosby v. Ovechkin was the fourth biggest hockey story of the decade. JP asked on his site if it'd be higher or lower next decade. I'm going to push and say it'll be about the 4th biggest story next decade too. The three bigger stories? NHL player involvement in the 2014 Olympics, the next CBA negotiations and the Penguins dynastic 11 straight Stanley Cups. [Puck Daddy]

Former Penguins prospect Angelo Esposito tore the same ACL again. Hard not to feel bad for someone who's career has seemingly peaked at age 15 or 16. [Bird Watchers Anonymous]

As a little aside, who would have guessed that Pascal Dupuis would have the more goals so far this season than everyone involved in that trade....Combined. The scoreboard (with NHL goals in parenthesis) is Pascal Dupuis (7) to everyone else (5). Marian Hossa (2) Colby Armstrong (3), Erik Christensen (0), Esposito (0) and a first round pick that was Daultan Leveille (0). Now that Hossa is back, figured I had to use that stat now.

Chicago's cap crunch might make defenseman Cam Barker the odd man out. Hear that, Mr. Shero? [Faceoff.com]

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I hope he gets off with a fine, but I won’t be angry if Cooke gets suspended. I can see why some think he deserves a suspension, and I agree that it was a reckless hit that should not have happened.

It’s hard to say that anything is a “clear suspension” when the NHL has let off players who have done worse (because they are stars) — so it’s always going to feel a little unfair when someone gets suspended for something like this. I will understand if they suspend Cooke, but wish they applied the same standards to certain others.

by Cari on Nov 29, 2009 12:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Heh, nice reference to Step Brothers. That movie is hilarious.

I also agree that Matt Cooke’s hit is questionable and will likely get him suspended. And much like Cari said, I believe this suspension comes more because of who Cooke is than what Cooke did.

And I’ll agree that Guerin has definitely lost a step. I mean, that was evident in the Panthers game when he was smoked on a foot race back into the Pens’ own end, but Guerin’s never been a Pavel Bure out there. To say he’s trying less or doing a poor job is definitely not true. Such is the life though of a 39-year-old NHL vet.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Nov 29, 2009 12:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Is there video of the Cooke hit anywhere? I still haven’t seen it. I’m withholding judgment until I see it but I do think that through Cooke’s whole career (not just in PIT!) he has been a D bag. He has always thrown cheap hits, he has a well-deserved reputation for not owning up to them, and they are frequently downright dirty. When he was with the Caps our line was that Cooke “is a 5 minute major for hitting from behind waiting to happen.” I think that line still applies.

If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...

by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 29, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He did own up to it by fighting Callahan, so I don’t think your generalizations about his career hold.

It was a late hit and he deserves a suspension though.

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Nov 29, 2009 2:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I did see that he fought later, but that doesn’t change a career. I’m not saying he never fought, I’m sure he has 5 for fighting a few times in his career. But he undoubtedly has a reputation for turtling when asked to answer. People in Vancouver can definitely support that.

If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...

by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 29, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He doesn’t always fight but he did last night, what does it matter his history of not owning up since he did last time?

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Nov 29, 2009 2:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Mostly just that there is a reason Cooke is treated differently, there is a reason people despise him. I’m not saying fighting or not fighting should have any bearing on a suspension but the full body of work, IMO, justifies not giving Cooke the benefit of the doubt. Some of the links in this post, from Pens fans, agree with me. Again, didn’t think this was controversial.

If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...

by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 29, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not controversial, just curious why the need cite Cooke’s past of not fighting much when it’s redered irrelevant since he fought last night.

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Nov 29, 2009 2:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

More to justify my comment that he’s been a D bag his whole career, not related to the suspension for this particular hit.

If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...

by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 29, 2009 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

(And I’m not trying to start a fight, I didn’t even think that was a provocative stance to take, I thought it was common knowledge.)

If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...

by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 29, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No doubt. I think a thread or two ago we all got on the subject of Matt Cooke too and how he’s the guy you want on your team but never want to play against.

He is, however, taking less stupid penalties this season. Or at least it seems that way. And then he goes and does something like this to more or less negate that statement, but still…

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Nov 29, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I watch some Pens, as you know, but not enough to comment on whether he has cleaned his act up at all. If he is, good for him but he has this hit and the knee incident against the Senators so people aren’t going to immediately think he’s changed much. I definitely liked having him on my team much more than against my team, but even on the Caps there never seemed like he had a chance of being a fan favorite and I can’t remember anyone making an argument to keep him when he became FA (of course, we had bigger fish to fry at that point so maybe that’s why). He’s not the worst in the league but I have no love for him, and very little respect. Speaking of the worst in the league, I thought that was hysterical when he went after Sid and Sid just ducked and took him out with his hip. Nice try jackass.

If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...

by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 29, 2009 4:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah Avery’s attempt at making the dirty highlight reel will have to wait one more game. Sid ducked right out of the way and make him look like a bigger jerk than he already is.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Nov 29, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Video

http://www.youtube.com/user/GhostWalker40#p/u/1/HDzXAm10KZY

Here between about 6:11 and 6:35

by Cari on Nov 29, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ooops I didn’t post that quite correctly…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDzXAm10KZY

by Cari on Nov 29, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

That looks an awful lot like the Richards on Booth hit, just with less force. It doesn’t look good for Cooke that the arm went flailing out so I’d expect a suspension. Who knows though. Like I said above, I’m not inclined to give Cooke the benefit of the doubt and if you go through the Confluence and EN links above you’ll see just how many of these kind of hits Cooke has in the last 6 months of hockey.

If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...

by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 29, 2009 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah it’s similar on that whole “lining him up while he’s not looking” sort of way. The flailing arm does look like he was trying/thinking about maybe jabbing a little more than just a shoulder into the play.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Nov 29, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It definitely doesn’t help that he left his feet on the hit…

by Hatt the Moople on Nov 29, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cooke is short: he had to to get high enough :P

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

by Sid the captain on Nov 30, 2009 6:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dude, didn’t everyone agree that Gonchar and the Pens weren’t going to discuss any extensions or contract negotiations until after the season? Besides, he has said he wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh, which means he may take a pay cut to do so. Hopefully someone pulls a Tim Duncan and renegotiates their contract and gives back some money to help other salaries.

by AlexStitch on Nov 29, 2009 1:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

NHL contracts cannot be re-done, once they’re signed they’re set in stone. So a guy like Crosby or Malkin couldn’t alter their deals even if they wanted to.

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Nov 29, 2009 2:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

The same clown from Ottawa who said the Penguins were preparing to trade Evgeni Malkin (two weeks before they re-signed him) says that the Penguins and Sergei Gonchar aren’t agreeing on extension figures.

It’s Bruce Garrioch, whose motto is, “often wrong, but never in doubt.”

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Nov 29, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I do love it when the Pens players and organization prove the media wrong.

Cooke brings so much entertainment, but also so much trouble. I won’t squick if he gets suspended a game or two, especially since (knock on wood) we’re getting our team back.

We should probably enjoy that statistic while we can.

"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007

"Don't beat yourself!"--Darrell Waltrip

by GreenEyedLilo on Nov 29, 2009 4:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

11 straight stanley cups? knock on wood, lets not go jinx it yet.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are your Stanley Cup Champions!!

by jetpen89 on Nov 29, 2009 4:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why would Cooke be suspended and not Avery?

Makes no sense

by BDON911 on Nov 29, 2009 5:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Cooke actually made contact. Avery just made himself look like more of an idiot. I guess the intent can’t really be measured, otherwise Avery would never set his foot on the ice. If Avery DID make contact and DID hurt Crosby than I think it’s safe to say that cheap shot would’ve warranted a suspension consideration as well.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Nov 29, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs