Is It Time for Cooke to Go?

While I still thoroughly defend my opinion of Matt Cooke vs. Trevor Gillies (see previous post), I now have to ponder whether or not Cooke has/should have seen his last game in a Penguins sweater.

In the wake of his flagrant flying elbow to the face of Rangers' defenseman Ryan McDonagh, there is no doubt a suspension is coming from the NHL.  General consensus around the radio, newspapers, Twitter, etc., is that Cooke will receive 7-10 games on the shelf for this latest incident.  However, there is no logical entry into the mind of NHL chief-disciplinarian Colin Campbell when it come to suspensions.  Given Cooke's history, and cheap-shot poster boy status, and the NHL's general dissatisfaction with recent public criticisms made by Mario Lemieux, I wouldn't be surprised if the book were thrown at Cooke.

Regardless of NHL discipline, how do you think Mario and Ray Shero are feeling about Mr. Cooke this morning.  It was bad enough that their efforts to ban all head shots were thwarted, almost laughingly, by the Old Boys Club of NHL GMs at their annual meeting in Boca Raton, FL last week.  Now one of their own players has effectively rubbed their faces in it.  You have to think this a major embarrassment for an organization fighting for change in the modern NHL.

There are already sources being sited inside the Penguins organization that are in favor of a long-term suspension for Cooke.  But you have to believe that some of those "sources" have further, team-handled discipline in mind.  This may be one of the stupidest, most selfish, and costly hits I have ever seen.  It shows a complete disregard and lack of respect for other players and for Cooke's teammates.  I would not be surprised if the Penguins voluntarily sat him for the rest of the season, including playoffs, then dumped him in the offseason.

I, for one, am on the fence on the matter.  I know he's a great guy, he does great charity work, he's a great penalty killer, and he's definitely an above-average NHL third-liner.  I just don't know if I can continue to justify his presence given his recent actions.  The Bad, and The Ugly, by far outweigh The Good anymore.