83 replies to this topic

[StevieY9802]

I don't see the elbow out but it sure was a shot to the head. Cooke has been suspended twice this season already so he's obviously not learning.

[Howard He Do It?!]

No elbow, got the head a bit but Savard was leaning forward. Not as bad as everyone here is making it seem but he'll probably get a couple games for it.

Not bad? Tell that to Savard who received a concussion as a result.

[Howard He Do It?!]

It was not an elbow but it was a head shot.

This hit is taking center stage at the GM meetings. I'd be surprised if some sort of rule change isn't announced that penalizes hits to the head. Too many players are getting injured as a result of head shots and there is no reason to be head hunting like this. Some players need to develop a little more respect. Just because hits like this are legal doesn't mean they should be.

Matt Cooke's hit on Boston's Marc Savard on Sunday will serve as Exhibit A as NHL general managers gather this week in Boca Raton, Florida for meetings.

Cooke's hit, a shoulder to the head and made partially from behind, left the Bruins forward concussed and unable to travel with his team.

Savard was blindsided and according to many of the game's decision makers, was vulnerable. That's exactly what the managers are hoping to clamp down on, a hit to the head on an unsuspecting player.

There was no penalty on the play.

Monday's meetings consist of a variety of presentations relating to the issue of head checking, concussions and the NHL's ongoing concussion management program.

The NHL has invited a medical team that specializes in concussions to speak and there will also be extensive video presentations isolating both legal and illegal contact with the head.

Monday's meetings will primarily focus on the data and research the NHL has done, but the majority of the three days of meetings will be spent discussing whether or not it's time the league does something to address head checking as many general managers consider this to be a significant safety concern.

It is possible, if not likely, this group will emerge from Wednesday's final discussions with recommendations on an additional penalty or a tweak to an existing rule to include the 'shoulder to the head' hit as an illegal play.

Currently, shoulder contact with the head is legal.

Any suggested rule changes or amendments to the rule book would have to pass through the NHL/NHLPA's joint competition committee and would require Board approval before being implemented. However, it is the expectation of some GM's that such rule adjustments will be in place for the 2010-2011 regular season.

TSN

[Hockeytown0001]

The NHL would suspend Ovechkin AGAIN before suspending Cooke.

[edicius]

The NHL would suspend Ovechkin AGAIN before suspending Cooke.

THIS.

The NHL had no problem suspending Ovechkin. For some reason though, Cooke seems to get a free pass from the league to injure whomever he likes.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt]

Clean hit, I think...

[F.Michael]

No elbow, but def an attempt to deliver a blow to the head...IMHO screw the "hits to the head penalty" - just retract the instigator rule, and let those douchebags like Cooke get the $hit beat outta them with no questions asked...Old Time Hockey!!!

[Wombat]

The NHL needs to adopt the IIHF rules. Any hit to the head is a penalty.

[Theophany]

It was a borderline dirty hit. No elbow (do you guys need your eyes checked? His elbow is tucked the whole way through the hit) and his aim was a bit off.

Hits to the head—intentional or unintentional—need stiffer penalties. That's a fact.

I just don't think that this was a blatant dirty hit. If it was, there are some Kronwall hits you guys need to look at and reevaluate.

[mjlegend]

Blindside hit to the head, close enough to an elbow for my liking. Five games. In my NHL, if Cooke does it again, 25 games. A third time and it's a life suspension.

I'm all for clean hits to the chest and torso but hits to the head like this have ended guys' careers. I can think of no greater message to send than to really go hard on Cooke for this hit (given the GM's meetings are going on right now), but I suspect he'll get a swat on the wrist from Campbell.


BTW if everyone kept their heads on a swivel like Kypreos and Messier want, there wouldn't be any shots on goal and it would be a game akin to roller derby, where people just line up and run into each other. With worse television ratings.

[Donaldjr2448]

I think Cooke knew exactly what he was going to do and you can tell that he lined Savard up! Cooke has been known to do things like this and you could even call him a repeat offender. That fact alone deserves as suspension, however, the hit is not a suspendable offense which is terrible by the NHL standards. It is apparent that these guys like Cooke do not have respect for each other out there. Savard already shot the puck and was no longer a factor in the play, so my question is why even hit him???? I simply do not understand this and I think this is why players now get all pissed off when there is a clean hit because of the lack of respect.

[newfy]

Not bad? Tell that to Savard who received a concussion as a result.

Read my post again. It says not as bad as everyone is making it seem. Just cause he got a concussion doesn't mean its a terribly dirty hit and I don't think it was nearly as bad as some people are saying. I never once said it wasn't bad.

[Theophany]

I think Cooke knew exactly what he was going to do and you can tell that he lined Savard up! Cooke has been known to do things like this and you could even call him a repeat offender. That fact alone deserves as suspension, however, the hit is not a suspendable offense which is terrible by the NHL standards. It is apparent that these guys like Cooke do not have respect for each other out there. Savard already shot the puck and was no longer a factor in the play, so my question is why even hit him???? I simply do not understand this and I think this is why players now get all pissed off when there is a clean hit because of the lack of respect.

You're seeing it in slow-motion.

The reality is that Savard was making a play on the puck and Cooke made a bad play to try and take him out from the blind side. He had him lined up, but Savard was still moving and not protecting himself when he took the hit.

I see the same thing at least once per season in lacrosse (which I coach at the high school varsity level): guy's not paying attention to a slide, sliding defenseman doesn't line up the hit right and boom, guy is out with a concussion.

It's a borderline dirty hit. Should it be legal? Definitely not. Head shots should be penalized like in the Olympics: 5 minute major (and game misconduct?).

There's a lot of overreaction (for example someone on the ESPN forums saying it was as bad as Bertuzzi's head punch) and hyperbole going around about the hit, but in the end when you see it at normal speed, it looks like a big hit that happened to get a guy in the head.

Major penalty, maybe game misconduct, done. Suspension if it's more serious (looks like obvious intent, etc).

[mwolf13]

Typical Matt Cooke and I Know None of you are surprised. let's see : Marc savard = One of the Key Bruins Players to their continued success, and this was no accident. Matt Cooke Knew who it was and made No Mistake. It doesn't even matter where his elbow is, a shuolder to the head does much more damage.
This is just another example of the Game not able to police itself. Remove the Instigator penalty and ARE YOU LISTENING remove the third man in rule, and within a month this Gutless Brand of Hockey will leave us for good. Cooke is the type of player this League does not need ,when he has to stand up for himself he stops doing this, and so when he can't submarine people he loses almost all of his value.

[tdinc]

that was in between an elbow and a shoulder. but he was aiming for the head.

that was a dirty hit.
suspension in my eyes

Edited by tdinc, 08 March 2010 - 07:59 PM.

[jeff48109]

the guys on VS lit Matt Cooke up over this

[Vladifan]

the guys on VS lit Matt Cooke up over this

PTI also took it on today and said the NHL is doing jack about that kind of hit. Didn't see the hit so I'm only reporting what they said. They also said that Don Cherry and others appreciate this kind of play and that most hockey fans who consistently watch also go for it. But they added if the NHL wants to gain audience they're gonna have to take care of that kind of crap.

[jeff48109]

PTI also took it on today and said the NHL is doing jack about that kind of hit. Didn't see the hit so I'm only reporting what they said. They also said that Don Cherry and others appreciate this kind of play and that most hockey fans who consistently watch also go for it. But they added if the NHL wants to gain audience they're gonna have to take care of that kind of crap.

i thought the guys on PTI were talking about getting rid of such hits and fighting, and that current hockey fans won't ever want fighting out? They kinda likened such hits and fighting as both needing to go to get new fans

[Howard He Do It?!]

Savard is out indefinitely.

Bruins center Marc Savard has been examined by a concussion specialist after being leveled by a blindside hit by the Penguins' Matt Cooke in Sunday's game.

A team spokesman says Savard returned on Monday to Boston. The spokesman gave no other details, but said Savard will not be with the team in Toronto tonight and is out indefinitely.

Savard had just taken a shot from above the circles when Cooke came from behind, raised his shoulder and struck Savard in the head.

Savard was on the ice for several minutes before being carried off.

From The Detroit News: http://detroitnews.c...y#ixzz0hfMdXPGx

[MCleveland89]

PTI also took it on today and said the NHL is doing jack about that kind of hit. Didn't see the hit so I'm only reporting what they said. They also said that Don Cherry and others appreciate this kind of play and that most hockey fans who consistently watch also go for it. But they added if the NHL wants to gain audience they're gonna have to take care of that kind of crap.

Seriously? I watch every Wings game and some other games as they are available through my cable provider, and I do not like this hit. Yes, it was legal, but dirty. There's no need for it. Cooke needs to get over himself.