Official Ottawa Senators Thread

[Sucker Punch]

I personally don't really care whether or not it was intentional, who did it, or if he got suspended.  Even if he got thrown out of the NHL permanently, our season is still screwed.  A 2-game suspension isn't going to change that.  I'd prefer if they just bounced Cooke from the league years ago, or if the damn linesmen would have called the play when the puck hit the mesh seconds before it happened.

For the record, I think it was careless but unintentional.

 

[maplesyrup]

I can appreciate Sens fans being P'Oed with Cooke... It took me a long while to get over the Berard/Hossa thing. 

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

I can appreciate Sens fans being P'Oed with Cooke... It took me a long while to get over the Berard/Hossa thing.

....I'm NOT over it yet............

 

[maplesyrup]

....I'm NOT over it yet............

It still stings, doesn't it... It's a testament to Berard that he was able to continue to play in the NHL with essentially one eye. I often wonder what might have been for him if he had vision in both.  :-\ 

 

[Hampreacher]

I still think if they penalize careless  errant sticks that this should be subject to penalty as well. That kind of injury could be career ending.

 

[TML fan]

I don't think that was on purpose.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Matt Cooke feels terrible about Karlsonn's injury...

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/02/14/pens-matt-cooke-feels-awful-about-karlssons-injury/

?It wasn?t until after the game when I found out what actually happened, and instantly you feel awful,? Cooke said. ?It was totally not my intent on the play. It was just a freak kind of accident, and I hope [Karlsson] understands that".

Reaction from the Senators was heated, but Cooke doesn?t blame them for being so upset.

?If it was our team, clearly we?d all be upset. I don?t judge them for their reactions. I understand it, and hopefully they feel differently about it today,? Cooke said.

...I trusted that it was purely an accident,? Cooke said. ?Unfortunately, with the speed that the game is played at, that?s what is going to happen. Accidents happen. I just trust that the league does their job.?

Cooke also revealed that his attempts to reach Karlsson have been unsuccessful.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Silver lining to Karlsson's injury for the Sens?  THN's Adam Proteau seems to think so.  Here's why...


From:
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/50015-Erik-Karlsson-injury-could-benefit-Senators-longterm.html

...one disastrous year doesn?t necessarily condemn an NHL team to extended suffering.

By this time next season, Ottawa easily could be right back in the post-season mix.

To not believe this is possible is to ignore what happened to the Senators just two years ago, when Ottawa finished in fifth in the Northeast and 13th in the Eastern Conference. That same season, the New Jersey Devils finished 11th overall and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996. But last year, the Sens were right back in the post-season and the Devils finished the year as Eastern Conference champions.

Those aren?t the only examples of NHL teams that follow up a year gone abysmally wrong with one that inspires great hope for the future. In 2006-07, the Philadelphia Flyers followed up a playoff appearance with a 22-48-12 campaign that put them dead last in the league. But out of that mess came the No. 2 overall draft pick (James van Riemsdyk) and the very next year, Philly made it all the way to the conference final. Similarly, the 2010-11 Devils wound up with the No. 4 overall draft pick and landed promising young blueliner Adam Larsson for their year of misery; and the Senators took Mika Zibanejad with the sixth overall selection that same year.

Both those teams took a short-term shot in the shorts, but both now can benefit for years because of it. That?s exactly what I?m expecting to happen this season in Ottawa, as well as in Philadelphia and Washington. It will be agonizing to be a fan of any one of those franchises for the next couple months. But when the draft rolls around and there?s a distinct possibility Seth Jones will be patrolling the blueline for the Flyers, or that Nathan MacKinnon will be wearing Washington or Ottawa colors in the very near future, I?m extremely confident their fan bases will say this current misery was worth it.

Anyone agree?

 

[Deebo]

Silver lining to Karlsson's injury for the Sens?  THN's Adam Proteau seems to think so.  Here's why...


From:
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/50015-Erik-Karlsson-injury-could-benefit-Senators-longterm.html

...one disastrous year doesn?t necessarily condemn an NHL team to extended suffering.

By this time next season, Ottawa easily could be right back in the post-season mix.

To not believe this is possible is to ignore what happened to the Senators just two years ago, when Ottawa finished in fifth in the Northeast and 13th in the Eastern Conference. That same season, the New Jersey Devils finished 11th overall and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996. But last year, the Sens were right back in the post-season and the Devils finished the year as Eastern Conference champions.

Those aren?t the only examples of NHL teams that follow up a year gone abysmally wrong with one that inspires great hope for the future. In 2006-07, the Philadelphia Flyers followed up a playoff appearance with a 22-48-12 campaign that put them dead last in the league. But out of that mess came the No. 2 overall draft pick (James van Riemsdyk) and the very next year, Philly made it all the way to the conference final. Similarly, the 2010-11 Devils wound up with the No. 4 overall draft pick and landed promising young blueliner Adam Larsson for their year of misery; and the Senators took Mika Zibanejad with the sixth overall selection that same year.

Both those teams took a short-term shot in the shorts, but both now can benefit for years because of it. That?s exactly what I?m expecting to happen this season in Ottawa, as well as in Philadelphia and Washington. It will be agonizing to be a fan of any one of those franchises for the next couple months. But when the draft rolls around and there?s a distinct possibility Seth Jones will be patrolling the blueline for the Flyers, or that Nathan MacKinnon will be wearing Washington or Ottawa colors in the very near future, I?m extremely confident their fan bases will say this current misery was worth it.

Anyone agree?

As long as Karlsson's injury doesn't have lasting effects, it makes sense.

Athough if a similar thing happened to Kessel, I'm sure Proteau's article would be about how screwed the Leafs would be. How Kessel would never be the same and how the Leafs are doomed.

 

[Zee]

If the Sens drop off this year and end up with a top 5 pick, they'll be laughing it up in 2-3 years, especially if Karlsson gets back and is healthy enough to perform like he has already.  They could get another impact player in this draft.

 

[bustaheims]

If the Sens drop off this year and end up with a top 5 pick, they'll be laughing it up in 2-3 years, especially if Karlsson gets back and is healthy enough to perform like he has already.  They could get another impact player in this draft.

I don't see them falling quite that far. Anderson is playing lights out and Spezza could be back in April. I think they're more likely to end up the 8-12 range of the draft - they'll still get a quality player, but it's not likely they'll get an impact player (and almost certainly not an instant impact player).

 

[Deebo]

"To have him taken out by a goon is unconscionable, Whether it was accidental, or whether it was reckless, or whether it was intentional, to me it doesn't matter. It's something that never should have happened. This player should never be playing in this league. It's a league for elite players," said Melnyk.

The Senators owner was asked if Cooke, who has been suspended five times by the NHL during his career, is a changed player nowadays.

"I don't buy any of that garbage. Five times? No, we're number six? How about seven and eight? At what point do you say, 'you know what? Maybe he's not changed.' You do this enough times, don't try to convince me or anybody else. People are way too intelligent. The guy gets suspended five times. That's how many times he's been suspended, never mind how many times he's not been suspended.

Oh shut up Gene.

 

[ZBBM]

"To have him taken out by a goon is unconscionable, Whether it was accidental, or whether it was reckless, or whether it was intentional, to me it doesn't matter. It's something that never should have happened. This player should never be playing in this league. It's a league for elite players," said Melnyk.

The Senators owner was asked if Cooke, who has been suspended five times by the NHL during his career, is a changed player nowadays.

"I don't buy any of that garbage. Five times? No, we're number six? How about seven and eight? At what point do you say, 'you know what? Maybe he's not changed.' You do this enough times, don't try to convince me or anybody else. People are way too intelligent. The guy gets suspended five times. That's how many times he's been suspended, never mind how many times he's not been suspended.

Oh shut up Gene.

Melnyk is a buffoon, but he's right to question Pittsburgh management about why they have Cooke on the roster.

 

[Zee]

"To have him taken out by a goon is unconscionable, Whether it was accidental, or whether it was reckless, or whether it was intentional, to me it doesn't matter. It's something that never should have happened. This player should never be playing in this league. It's a league for elite players," said Melnyk.

The Senators owner was asked if Cooke, who has been suspended five times by the NHL during his career, is a changed player nowadays.

"I don't buy any of that garbage. Five times? No, we're number six? How about seven and eight? At what point do you say, 'you know what? Maybe he's not changed.' You do this enough times, don't try to convince me or anybody else. People are way too intelligent. The guy gets suspended five times. That's how many times he's been suspended, never mind how many times he's not been suspended.

Oh shut up Gene.

Melnyk is a buffoon, but he's right to question Pittsburgh management about why they have Cooke on the roster.

"Elite players" -- you mean like Chris Neil?

 

[Kin]

Melnyk is a buffoon, but he's right to question Pittsburgh management about why they have Cooke on the roster.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/r/ruutuja01.html

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/n/neilch01.html

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/v/varadva01.html

The presence of a guy like Cooke in the league might be a fair question for others but coming from a guy like Melnyk it just comes off as hypocritical whining.

edit: Actually, forget that last sentence. Cooke scored 19 goals last year. That earns him a place on any team's 3rd line.

 

[ZBBM]

Melnyk is a buffoon, but he's right to question Pittsburgh management about why they have Cooke on the roster.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/r/ruutuja01.html

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/n/neilch01.html

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/v/varadva01.html

The presence of a guy like Cooke in the league might be a fair question for others but coming from a guy like Melnyk it just comes off as hypocritical whining.

I agree, but I am setting the issue of hypocrisy aside.  An objective observer has to ask, I think, why is Cooke in the league, given his track record?  It's not like there aren't players in the AHL who are his equal in talent and have none of his baggage.  It's a legitimate question, even though coming from the mouth of Melnyk it also happens to be hypocritical.

 

[Kin]

I agree, but I am setting the issue of hypocrisy aside.  An objective observer has to ask, I think, why is Cooke in the league, given his track record?  It's not like there aren't players in the AHL who are his equal in talent and have none of his baggage.  It's a legitimate question, even though coming from the mouth of Melnyk it also happens to be hypocritical.

As I said in my edit to the post you quoted, I don't think it is a fair question. Cooke isn't a terrible player. He scored 19 goals last year and over his career has averaged 13 goals and 18 assists per 82 games. I don't think there are a ton of AHler's who can do that while adding a physical element and playing heavy minutes on the PK, as Cooke has done.

If there were, the Leafs absolutely could have used some guys like that over the years.

 

[bustaheims]

I agree, but I am setting the issue of hypocrisy aside.  An objective observer has to ask, I think, why is Cooke in the league, given his track record?  It's not like there aren't players in the AHL who are his equal in talent and have none of his baggage.  It's a legitimate question, even though coming from the mouth of Melnyk it also happens to be hypocritical.

I'm going to go with no. When Cooke isn't involved in this kind of incident, he's a very effective hockey player with a fairly decent amoutn of offensive skill. If there were guys in the AHL capable of playing at his level, then they don't deserve to be in the AHL. I doubt any organization is deep enough to have guys of Cooke's skill level toiling in the AHL unless they're still younger guys/prospects that haven't earned their spot yet.

I mean, we're not talking about Cam Janssen here.

 

[ZBBM]

Well, I guess we could argue whether a 31-point-per-year guy is better than most AHLers, but clearly he's not indispensable and there are guys down there who could easily replace him.  Anyway, I give Crazy Eugene a pass on that rant.

BTW I wouldn't want Cooke on my team no matter how good he is.

 

[Kin]

Well, I guess we could argue whether a 31-point-per-year guy is better than most AHLers, but clearly he's not indispensable and there are guys down there who could easily replace him.

Well, if you're going to argue that 31 points a year on the third line from a physical PK'er is something that's easily replaceable by an AHLer I think your first obstacle would be explaining why there are tons of NHL guys who can't do it.

Jay McClement, for instance, has averaged 9 goals, 24 points per 82 in his career. Travis Moen is 7 goals, 15 points. Sami Pahlsson is 7 goals, 21 points and so on and so forth.