The Matt Cooke Rule: 17 Games for Being Matt Cooke

“But you are a fan of the team that harbors Matt Cooke!” Yes. And ... ?

As of February 2011, if you are a Penguins fan, then you are evil in the world of hockey. “Matt Cooke” is a dirty word that fans of Todd Bertuzzi, Trevor Gillies and Raffi Torres spit out of their mouths like a dog hair stuck to their tongues.

Cooke served two suspensions in the second of half of the 2010-11 season for illegal hits. The first was on Feb. 9 for charging and boarding Blue Jacket Fedor Tyutin. Cooke served four games. Then, on March 21, Cooke began what would turn into a 17-game suspension (10 regular-season games and the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs) for elbowing Ranger Ryan McDonagh in the head, a violation of Rule 48 in the NHL Rule Book.

With former NHL defenseman Colin Campbell no longer doling out punishments, many hockey fans hope to see the “Blame Matt Cooke” mentality and culture disappear. I would like to see his replacement, Brendan Shanahan, usher in an actual standard for discipline. Campbell’s idea of discipline was laughable.

I introduce to you Rule 48, “Illegal Check to the Head,” which I would like to rename “17 Games for Being Matt Cooke.”

When Cooke was suspended for 10 games and the first round of the playoffs, I vehemently backed the NHL’s decision, hoping that Cooke would wise up and change his ways. The Pens have a great player in Cooke. He is an asset to our penalty kill and an overall good player, scoring 12 goals and 18 assists in the 2010-11 regular season, and 15 goals and 15 assists during the 2009-10 regular season, adding an additional four goals and two assists in the Pens’ postseason run in 2010. I was disappointed in Cooke’s actions and hoped that he would swallow it down and come back a better player, as he so indicated.

But then, with “head shots” being the buzz word of the year, I expected the NHL to apply the same punishment that Cooke was handed down to all players guilty of the same infraction. But let’s look at the score card on this:

1. March 10, 2011: Lightning Pavel Kubina: three games for elbowing Blackhawk Dave Bolland in the head.
2. March 16, 2011: (former) Shark Dany Heatley: two games for elbowing Star Steve Ott in the head.
3. March 17, 2011: Bruin Brad Marchand: two games for elbowing Blue Jacket R.J. Umberger in the head.
4. April 7, 2011: (Former) Canuck Torres: two games and two playoffs games for elbowing Oiler Jordan Eberle in the head.

On April 17, when Torres returned from his four-game suspension, he hit Blackhawk Brent Seabrook in a similar manner that he did Umberger. No suspension was applied. Back in February, Torres slammed into Canadien Max Pacioretty, both feet leaving the ice before hitting Pacioretty into the boards. Lightning Steve Downie served a one-game suspension in the playoffs for the same style of hit on Penguin Ben Lovejoy.

Fans with “Matt Cooke Derangement Syndrome” cite Cooke as a repeat offender. Fair enough. But refer to the list above. Where do you see consistency in the suspensions for violations of Rule 48? I do NOT defend Cooke’s actions, but I do defend Cooke’s right to be treated fairly by the NHL, as well as all other players. Some of the same people who vilify Cooke also cheer Bertuzzi, and Bertuzzi almost killed a man on the ice! Do you want to talk about ruining or ending a career? I do not defend Cooke’s hit on Marc Savard, but that was the last hit in a long line of hits to Savard’s head. Bertuzzi practially destroyed the life of Steve Moore, and yet, fans cheered for Bertuzzi when he returned to the game a year later as if he were some sort of a hero.

This season, Shanahan needs to, first and foremost, govern with a fair and consistent hand when it comes to disciplining players. The act, not the result, must be punished. Regardless of the physical damage done to the victim of the situation, the rule must be applied consistently, except in extreme situations. I agree with the NHL’s decision not to punish Bruin Zdeno Chara for his hit on Pacioretty that unfortunately ended his season. The hit was clean; the consequence was just unfortunate. But you need to punish the crime, not the result.

Let’s hope Shanahan shows integrity and helps pull the NHL from “Garage League” status.