The media can “spin” the problems of the NHL onto Mario Lemieux’s shoulders all they want, but when push comes to shove, the NHL will still be the one that needs to correct their problem, not Mario. Until the NHL fixes the problem of leaving players to “police themselves” the Pittsburgh Penguins need to employ the Matt Cooke’s & Eric Godard’s.
Mario Lemieux came out with what he thinks would be a resolution to the NHL’s problems, just to be turned down. Nobody in the media ever seems to mention that Mario and the Penguins are the victims of what is wrong with the NHL yet are always the very first to point out that Mario needs to clean house. Mario Lemieux is suggesting that it’s time the NHL do away with the idiotic let the players police themselves policy and it’s time the NHL actually polices itself & the players.
Mario is suggesting putting a stop the good ol’ boy network’s backward mentality of the Colin Campbell’s & Brian Burke’s of the league. The same who say that Mario should not come out and say this in public, the same who would have thrown it under the rug if he didn’t.
If you don’t believe there is a good ol’ boys mentality listen to ex-goon Duane Sutter who is now the Calgary Flames director of player personnel: “You see guys turning their backs on a guy coming at them, 3 or 4 feet from the boards, If you don’t want to protect yourself, why should the league?”
A simple case in point: When is the NHL going to come up with a policy for scrums in front of the net? This happens about 15 times a game. If a player is poking at a goaltender after the whistle, the NHL never calls a penalty, the referee’s probably don’t even have a penalty they can call. This forces players to come in and cross check, spear, face wash or a plant a fast jab to the mouth of an opposing player, which by the way the NHL referee’s never call a penalty for either. Hence the players need to “police themselves”
For the NHL to do away with Matt Cooke’s type of play, they need to stop this entire mentality. Mario is trying to help the NHL do something about this. Mario is an example of what could and should be a forward thinking NHL. Mario Lemieux is doing everything right and would be a complete idiot if he left his star players unprotected until the NHL starts policing itself.
The problem with the league right now is that the ex-goons are running the asylum. It is time for the forward thinking owners and GM’s like Lemieux, Molson and Yzerman to step forward and take over the league by mutiny if needed. It’s time for the NHL to move on to the next level.
What kind of message is Shero sending the Pens players throwing Cooke under the bus like that? Even though Garth Snow is an idiot, at least he knows to stick up for his players.
Matt Cooke got suspended the rest of the season (10 games) and the first round of the playoffs (up to 7 games). Cooke stands to lose $220,000 in salary from this suspension.
I would like to say that I am all for this kind of suspension as long as Colin Campbell and the VP who seems to let Boston off the hook all the time start making suspensions longer and more meaningful to ALL players. I really think between the loss of salary and playing time, this sends the correct message to the NHL players.
I agree, until the league ponies up and does something about this, the Pens might as well have all the goons on their team. Mario made an offer that would have cost him & the Penguins a fortune, the league turned it down. If the Pens let Matt Cooke go, he goes to another team that plays the Penguins. Why would Mario do that?
It did look like Cooke figured out just a second to late that what he was doing was stupid, when he tried to pull his elbow in. I think he’ll get 6-8 anything over 8 would be insane because of how the NHL fined Gilles. Cooke deserves whatever he gets though.
I don’t think h figured it out as much as he was trying to hide the fact he just elbowed the guy. I’m sure they have more cameras at the nationally televised games also. Dumb move…and he’s literally paying for it!
Rupp, Adams, Engelland, Orpik & Goddard are all capable playing the enforcer role without recklessly endangering players on the opposing team.
I used to go to bat for Cooke, but I’m tired of doing it.
I doubt you’ll find anyone in Penguin management or a Penguin fan for that matter sticking up for Cooke.
I truly believe the players on the opposing teams leave Crosby and Malkin alone a bit more because they are aware a crazy person might take an elbow to their head.
If you are a good fighter, why not take a cheap shot at a star in the playoffs. You’ll probably win a fight, might only get suspended a game or two, yet you’ve helped your team get to the next round. Your a hero.
If the NHL doesn’t up suspensions and fines like Lemieux asks, the Pens need an insane person on the roster who makes the fighter/goon afraid he might get taken out long term if he pulls crap.
I agree with Mario. Up the suspensions and fines and up the fees to the teams. This is the only way this crap will stop.
They should also consider self imposed term limits on Bettman’s position. They should be bringing in new blood all the time. Maybe a maximum of 6 years per term.
You’re seriously comparing Cooke’s elbow to a scrum in front of the net? A face wash or a push isn’t going to give someone a concussion and injure them. Cooke’s elbow was reckless, intentional, and with intent to injure.
I’ve got no problems with “tough” guys in the league (Goddard, Prust for the Rangers, etc). They are there to protect their teammates from players exactly like Matt Cooke that take illegal cheap shots at other people. Matt Cooke is the reason teams need tough guys.
“If you don’t want to protect yourself, why should the league?” That says everything you need to know about the NHL in a nutshell.
Great stuff. I’ve been reading this idiotic crap all day… Mario should clean his own house, he can’t clean his house until the NHL fixes the foundation.
Cooke deserves what he gets, it was a stupid play.
The media blaming Mario for this is idiotic. The NHL deserves all the bad attention it gets from this. I for one am happy it happened during a nationally televised game at least it will bring attention to the problem.
The sad part is that Cooke can play hockey if he wants. He pisses me off when he does this sheit!
Throw the book at him Danno!
The problem is that players aren’t policing themselves. The game is too fast now and there isn’t room on the roster for the players that used do the “police work”