NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell announced earlier today that Pittsburgh Penguins' forward Matt Cooke would not be suspended for his shoulder to head hit on Boston Bruins' forward Marc Savard on Sunday afternoon.
Savard suffered a Grade 2 concussion as a result of the hit, and it is highly likely that Savard will miss the remainder of the season.
At the general managers meetings' in Boca Raton, Fla, Campbell said that he had to remain consistent when debating whether or not he should punish Cooke for his hit, citing that Philadelphia Flyers forward Mike Richards was not suspended for his shoulder to head hit on Florida Panther's forward David Boothe on Oct. 24.
Though a repeat offender, Campbell said he could not use that as criteria in deciding whether or not to suspend Cooke, as shoulder to head hits are currently legal.
Although I understand Campbell's logic, I do not agree with his decision. Cooke has a history of incidents on the ice as he was suspended for two games in November after a hit to the head on New York Rangers center Artem Anisimov, and was again suspended for two games on Jan. 20 for a hit on then Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker.
Ok, I understand that Campbell has disciplined Cooke before, and, yes, shoulder to head hits are currently legal in the NHL. But, Cooke sized Savard up as he went to hit him, and showed no remorse in the locker room afterwards going as far as to say he was hit a few shifts prior, and no penalty was called.
Come on, Matt, you're in the NHL. You're a big boy, 5 ft 11, 205 pounds, and have been in the league for 10 years. Don't cry just because someone got a clean check on you, that's what you signed up for.
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