Did Matt Cooke slice Erik Karlsson’s Achilles tendon on purpose? The debate has been ongoing, all over social media, since the hit took place. Many fans who have Cooke’s dirty reputation etched in their minds’ think Cooke returned to his “bad boy” ways and delivered a blow to Karlsson that is crushing to the Ottawa Senators in many ways. A number of Pittsburgh Penguins’ faithful believe the incident was an accident.
Senator’s Head Coach Paul Maclean was asked about the unfortunate incident. In his post-game comments, Maclean didn’t convincingly acquit Cooke of the charges pressed against him. Maclean seemed reminded of the Cooke who’s been suspended time and time again by the NHL.
“The injury to Erik, it’s unfortunate that it happens on a nothing play that could’ve potentially been whistled down,” said Maclean. “We all know who’s involved in it and that’s just the way it is. Injuries are a part of the game. We’re going to have to move forward.”
When asked whether Maclean thought Cooke acted purposely, Maclean stated, “That’s not up to me to decide.”
The Senators have seemed to hit their breaking point with all of their injuries this season. General Manager Bryan Murray was visibly upset after the game. He is one person who is certain Cooke’s actions were dirty.
“It’s Matt Cooke,” said Murray. “What else should I say? Watch the replay.”
With less than 25 seconds remaining in the 2nd period, Cooke and Karlsson went battling into the right corner of Senators’ goaltender Craig Anderson. Cooke locked up with Karlsson and began to ride him into the boards. Cooke was taken aback by Karlsson, lost his balance and put all his weight on his right skate. When Cooke tried to regain his balance and bring his left skate to the ice, his skate blade landed inside of the heel of Karlsson’s skate. This resulted in the laceration of Karlsson’s left Achilles tendon.
This is not the first questionable incident involving Cooke and Ottawa’s young phenom, Karlsson. Back in 2010, Cooke took a run at Karlsson when the Sens’ best defenseman was completely defenseless. Cooke hit Karlsson from behind after Karlsson was recovering from an initial check dished out by Maxime Talbot.
Even taking Cooke’s reputation into consideration, it would be extremely difficult for any NHL player to get their skate blade lodged inside the heel of Karlsson’s skate on purpose. The game happens so fast. There wasn’t enough time for Cooke to think about what he was doing.
“Obviously, I feel terrible about it. I’m not trying to do that, obviously,” said Cooke.
Cooke has a reputation that he is trying to repair based upon dirty incidents that have caused him to be suspended in the past. Over the past two seasons, he has proved that he is a new hockey player. Cooke hasn’t been caught in any questionable situations since he was suspended at the end of the 2010-11 season for an elbow on New York Rangers defenseman, Ryan McDonagh.
Last season, Cooke recorded his lowest penalty minute total (44 PIM) since his 1999-2000 season with the Vancouver Canucks. He dressed for 51 games that season. Cooke recorded three minor penalties this season until he was mugged by Senators’ enforcer Chris Neal at the end of Wednesday night’s contest. Cooke was handed a 10 minute misconduct for the scuffle. He acted as a punching bag and received multiple blows from Neal while dishing out none.
Matt Cooke will be in the clear from this incident. He will not be suspended by the NHL, nor should he be. This was a freak accident. If you still do not believe Cooke is innocent, review the video from TSN. Watch the view at 1:35 of the video and pay attention to Cooke’s head. He is looking to his right and has no idea where Erik Karlsson’s skates are on the ice.
Bryan Murray and the rest of the Ottawa Senators organization will eventually realize Cooke did not try to purposely injure Erik Karlsson. Once the organization is able to evaluate the video evidence, Cooke should be forgiven for this incident.
Justin Glock has covered the Pittsburgh Penguins for The Hockey Writers since 2011. As a lead writer, his Penguins knowledge traces back over two decades. For any requests, please feel free to contact Justin via email: JGlock10@gmail.com.
Justin, loved your column so much I linked to it in mine: https://thehockeywriters.com/do-rangers-have-toughness-to-defend-against-the-matt-cookes-of-nhl/.
Thanks Steve. Your opinion was done in a classy manner. I enjoyed your opinion.
It pains me to say this but I actually think there’s a little conspiracy of silence going on here. The very last thing this league needs is Matt Cooke doing Matt Cooke things and yet that’s exactly what he did, to one of the game’s rising young stars. ‘Now what? Our efforts at disciplining him are making us look weak and ineffectual. That’s not part of the PR rebuilding campaign. We have no choice but to collectively agree that it was a hockey play, and not malicious. If enough of us insist on it, they will believe us.’ Matt Cooke has a major impulse control problem. Cure it through scratches and demotion.
I was just talking with a co-worker (who is a Pens fan) yesterday about how dirty Cooke is.
The notion that he’s cleaned up his game is nonsense. In any other hockey conversation we would all agree that the game moves too fast for anyone to do anything but play off their instincts and their athleticism– but not Matt Cooke, not superstar Cooke who suddenly has the unique ability to change the way he’s played the game his entire life in the span of one season. Like everyone, he plays off his instincts. And his instincts are dirty.
I think the record speaks for itself. I don’t believe for a minute that was a “hockey play gone wrong”, as I’ve heard it described. At the very least it was a reckless play by a player who has been suspended 5 times and ended a few careers. Dump the instigator penalty and let this stuff get sorted out on the ice. I agree with Eugene Melnyk. He should be making 60k in the minors somewhere.
Jeff don’t forget that “the minors somewhere” could conceivably mean us here in Austin and we don’t want him. Maybe he should play out his twilight years buried in Eurotrash.
How many times have all of you watched the replay? Try placing your skate blade in a guys left heel without looking.
Cooke has had plenty off opportunities to elbow players in the head. Near all of his dirty plays have been elbows and that’s not hard for an NHL player to do if he wants.
Justin the title of the article is precisely worded; did he slice his tendon on purpose… the answer is most likely no. That would require some forethought about slicing his tendon. Did he stomp his skate down on the back of the kid’s leg knowingly and recklessly enough to possibly cause injury, I think so. Otherwise, poor Matt Cooke, he’s just so unlucky that so many players get hurt playing around him.
Slicing someone, either way you explain it in your last comment, is purposely. We’ll agree to disagree on that, but how do you explain Matt Cooke bringing his left foot to that exact spot when he isn’t even looking?
And Eugene Melnyk has a very questionable past himself.
If you have to be responsible for your stick, you should be responsible for your skates. It is impossible to prove Cooke’s INTENT, but I would suspend him ten games to set a precedent. Since its one of the dirtiest players in the history of sport, Cooke is the perfect guy to set the precedent with.
Okay Steve. They ask you to be responsible for your stick, but they don’t suspend you for accidentally high-sticking someone do they? They give you a 2-4 minute penalty, which is the equivalent that you are looking for I think. I don’t mind that rule in terms of limiting skate effecting injuries, but suspending Cooke for this would be absolutely absurd and laughable imo.
Yes and it is a mistake in the league to only give a 2-4 minute penalty in the case where a play is truly reckless. If you recklessly injure someone with a high stick you should get suspended just like if you recklessly hit someone with your skate you should as well. It’s about player safety not intent. Whether Cooke did it intentionally or not (I happen to think it wasn’t intentional) he was reckless on the play. Karlsson was in a vulnerable position with no way to protect himself and cook stupidly screwed up his pin and ruined Karlsson’s season.
I have a lot more sympathy for this point of view Robert. However, I guess I would disagree with the idea that this was a ‘reckless’ play from Cooke and generally I think there are very few ‘reckless’ high sticks as well incidentally. I just don’t see Cooke ‘exploiting a vulnerable’ position or doing anything that isn’t purely incidental.
Nice article Justin and a pretty obvious point. Can anyone watch the replay and produce ANY EVIDENCE from the video that it was even a tiny bit intentional aside from ‘oh it’s Matt Cooke and a good player again’? I think Cooke is a player who deserves to have spent A LOT more time suspended than he actually has, but NHL discipline should never operate on reputation alone, and it should definitely take into account the fact that Cooke is a changed player. This is a horrible and unfortunate situation for Ottawa, but Cook is not to blame.
Seb, I totally agree. It’s seems like Bryan Murray is still flipping out. From what I’ve heard, he’s mad Cooke wasn’t suspended due to his rep.
Much as I would like to blame Cooke on this play, it was just a freak situation. This Ranger fan was mightily impressed w/ Karlesson in last year’s playoff. I wish nothing but the best in his recovery time. Cooke should not be fined or suspended.
I would agree that cutting someone with their skate is ludicous if the cutting wasnt performed by one who had no issues with blowing guys knees out and damaging their brains. oh and they all happened to be elite players… coincidence? doubt it.
Cooke went in to pin Karlsson with his leg on the boards, as he should. Karlsson is pushing back (technically impeded Cooke and could be seen as interference) and puts Cooke off-balance. The entire time Cooke is looking to the right for the puck, and never looks left until Karlsson is on the ice. Trying to regain balance, one would naturally try to put their foot down. Not looking to the left, he put his skate down and Karlsson’s skate was there. Unfortunate accident involving an up and coming star and Cooke, who has a storied past, but check the stats…his play was significantly improved and not only from a PIM standpoint. He knows all too well the next purposeful play could be his last for the Pens if not the league.
Watching this live and many replays of it for anyone to say that Cooke intentionally did this should never be allowed to watch a hockey game again. Cooke may once have been a dirty player but to think he would try to cut someone with his skate is absolutely ludicrous
Hey Ryan – I agree, just a fast, unfortunate play. It’s only a coincidence that a player with Cooke’s reputation is involved. I only hope that the injury isn’t career threatening.
Ryan, thanks for reading. I do hope the Sens take a different position on this after seeing different angles of the replay. Although I think they’ve had enough with injuries and I’m not sure they will they will change their opinion.