Cooke fined $2,500

Washington's Matt Cooke, whose hit on Vinny Lecavalier caused the Lightning star's shoulder injury, was fined Friday $2,500 by the league. There was no suspension. The league decided Cooke's open-ice hit on Lecavalier, who was not carrying the puck, should have been an interference call. Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau reiterated to D.C. reporters Friday that he believed Cooke was trying to check Tampa Bay's Michel Ouellet, who had the puck along the left wing boards. 

"I don't think he was trying to check Vinny,'' Boudreau said. "I think he was going after the puck carrier. It was shoulder to shoulder. It's not like Vinny didn't see him. He saw him. We've seen the replay 30 times. There was nothing dirty about it.''

   

Comments

[léo Çh]

Gooooooooooo....
Flyers!!!
(hey,I know they're trash but whacannnasay?)
Go Flyers go!
SSF

[bingo]

JR, please an apologist..... give me a break. My statement has been for months.

Bye Bye Feaster, Tort, All coaching staff, I've yet to hear anyone call for the head of Reese....

And also I included the bastille of the scouting staff into ?????.

I would not in any way call that an apologist. All I stated that a simple search.... maybe you can jcall the bush boys and get a real definition jfrom the scooter boy,,,,,
There are multiple articles referencing the demise of the sports lending and in general lending at all.

The saw man - his time has past.

We have no one..... Maybe George Steinbrenner can pick up the tab.

If clear channel can't get there funding who in the be jesus is going to offer any lending to Hockey..... just this side of a fantasy sport like Arena Football.....

There is no marketing, Refs..... don't know how to call a game from one period to the next. And that is not in reference to the Bolts, yes - they have had their fare share of bad calls.... I'm referring to the simple task of calling off sides, goalie interference, slashing, boarding etc..... Bettman is a joke and has caused heart failure for this grand sport....... That I've loved for near 50 years. I've been lucky to be in Beantown for the cup and years of Phil, Orr et al...... Lucky to have met them. Saw Gordie play as a young man in springfield and Hartford.... now that was a hockey player..... Fight Goal and an assist that's what I call a complete player. Moved to florida and was excited as anyone when a team was placed here..... and to boot after a few short years they won a cup..... How long has it been for Philly, Boston...... chicago, and a canadian team like toronto..

What is a credible report..... your tab at Bern's? what is it you would like......
The bank is OUT OF BUSINESS....... they were doing the deal.....
Now there is no bank that will write the check. I stated last month... the only way the deal happens for anyone is if Palace Sports writes the loan....

C ya

[Bear]

Heh Flasher: Reported US attendence leader loses 30 million despite revenue sharing might be the spin.

Karma Winnipeg is a short drive from Minny, but if a SE team relocated there the league would reshuffle with Detroit ending back in the east Winny in the west.

Terrible about Vinny in next to last game to suffer a torn labrum..thats a long rehab. 12-15 weeks.

Tickets have to go up every year unless gas milk and eggs don't. Just inflation. Cap next year to be close to 60 million.

Congrats Leo..that power play is a thing of beauty..take a gulp and cheer for your Flyers tomorrow.

Caps get in playoffs courtesy of the SE handicap..no team in the division qualified on straight points..pretty pathetic.

[boltflasher]

Wiggy, did you mean Bolts? Yes, the Rays are off to a good start are they not?

[wiggy]

Karma...you don't have to buy the tickets. You're not being forced to do anything. Rays fans ned to make a statement and many of them will.

[Karma]

Last time I looked, Winnipeg is still in the middle of freakin' no where, and it is too expensive to travel to Winnipeg, or for the team to travel even within its division.

Along the lines of the new CBA, attendance and the Cap, I think there is one more additional variable that no one is talking about -- the League must raise the Cap based upon annual revenues of the prior year. Yet, the teams raise the ticket prices annually. We've run into a cycle where we, the fans, keep being forced to pay for overpaid players, because we paid to see them the year before.
I wish the CBA included the fans, as it's really OUR money paying the salaries...(my understanding is that the League get nearly all revenue from gate receipt, which is used to evaluate Cap increases.)

Looks like the top 3 picks in the draft are all winners. Hopefully we don't trade ours away.

Karma

[boltflasher]

There probably will be a team back in Winnipeg down the road...but if its this one, it'll be a while. No league moves its "reported" top US attendance leader...its never been done. Franchises have been moved but not one at the top of the attendance list...makes the league look foolish...

[Bear]

Delusional guy who will always try to move the goal posts rather than admit he/she is flat out wrong.

Hamilton, Winnipeg and Quebec have arenas that would easily work short term while they refit or rebuild.

Hardly a stumbling block to a guaranteed league money maker vs a rust belt dead beat. BTW Bettman has already said he wants a team back in Winny but no sense adding another layer of logic for you.

[boltflasher]

Winnipeg does not have a good facility. The point is that the Bolts will not move to Canada admist some sort of conspiracy to get them out of here...as been put forth by some. I already stated that all of the attendance figures are bogus somewhat but its PR for Bettman and he won't allow a team to move anytime soon.

[Bear]

Boltflasher what's your point other than you don't have one.?

Ballsilie made a dumb move by not indemnifying the Leafs and Sabres 1st before his mid night move to Hamilton..has squat to do with the govt. The NHL does what the Leafs ask them to do. They are the old boys club.

He could put the Bolts in Winnipeg next week and be loudly cheered and unopposed.If he wants to put a team in S Ont he has to pay the piper.

Attendance figures aren't believed by anyone but you, so give it up there too.

The real ones are the basis for league revenue sharing and if a team loses close to 30 mill despite revenue sharing , no one will question the moving trucks.

[Danger]

Yeah, watch what happens if the PGA Bolts go after Ovechkin. Not happening. So the fine on Cooke is an insult, but sending out a 5th man (or goon) on a PK when your team has nothing left to fight for in the game, much less the season and said goon instigates a fight is perfectly ok? This is why hockey shouldn't go south of the Mason-Dixon you stupid hicks! P.S. THERE ARE NO EFFING CHEERLEADERS IN HOCKEY

[boltflasher]

More about Bettman: A post from AOL Sports: Canadian Government Won't Interfere With Franchise Relocations
Posted Mar 31st 2008 3:25PM by Jes Golbez
Filed under: Nashville, General NHL, Predators, NHL Economics

When the NHL strong-armed former Nashville Preds owner Craig Leopold not to sell his club to Jim Balsillie's shiny head, quite a few Canadians fans and journalists were rather upset at the league's blatant attempt to deny Canada a seventh NHL club.

Not only did the NHL obviously not want a team to move from the American South up to the loving arms of The Great White North, but the nearby Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres weren't too keen on Hamilton sucking away fans from them, either.

Those two teams can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the Canadian government won't step in any day soon.
The NHL's policies "further legitimate business interests, such as preserving team rivalries, attracting a broader audience, and encouraging investment in sports facilities by local municipalities," the Competition Bureau said in a statement.

The regulator said it started the inquiry because media reports raised concerns about whether the NHL had engaged in "anticompetitive behavior," after Balsillie last year signed a letter of intent to buy the Predators. Balsillie didn't end up buying the team.Further legitimate business interests and preserve rivalries? Sure ... who does Nashville have a rivalry with, exactly?

As much as I believe certain NHL teams would be better off if they moved to Canada, the free-market economist in me believes the NHL is in the right.

Why shouldn't the NHL, which is a privately-held, closed (minded) organization, be allowed to choose where it wants its teams located? If the NHL stubbornyly wants to keep teams in weak markets and attempt to lure in new fans, that is their prerogative. Anyone looking to get into the NHL ownership loops knows this, and shouldn't expect the government to bend the league's rules for their own interests.

So, the Maple Leafs are free to ensure the league doesn't put a team well within the Greater Toronto Area, and the NHL has even more ammunition in its fight to deny Canadian hockey fans a chance for another team. All Hail Commissar Bettman!

[boltflasher]

PR, all of the league's attendance figures are somewhat bogus...e.g., New York's everyone under 16 gets in free nights. However I and other season tickets holders know that the Forum has been full most nights and its one of the larger buildings in the league...I never said the full building equated with good revenue (especially in TB's case). All I have said is that the Bettman and the NHL will not move the franchise to Canada anytime soon. It would make Bettman look bad if moving the supposed top US city in attendance last year and 4th this year.

[Bear]

Amanda, given your husbands access , how close are we to the bottom of the subprime crash or are we all screwed?

[Bear]

I couldn't figure out where the hacked money went either but net net SG is screwed either way.

[amanda]

My husband works for an investment bank. There are strong rumors that the $7.2 billion in unauthorized trades is a bogus story concocted by SG to cover up the incredible amount of their subprime paper. They can blame the losses on one rogue employee instead of the officers and management that authorized the shaky loans. As far as we know, the alleged rogue trader has not ben prosecuted.

[Bear]

Boltflasher there was a huge securities scam in France not long ago where the banking system was hacked and indeed 7 Billion ripped of. SG was one of the holding companies hit.

[bear]

Bingo, in reading the SG article, its pretty clear that the Sports Business is well in their rear view mirror.

The hoax is more with Koules..his supposed real estate expert investor Sherrin is a mystery man to those in the Tampa financials.
Koules personally was recently cleaned out in a divorce settlement. Any thing he can raise goes first to the pathetic SAW movie production.
He has no commited partners.

Other than that the deal is 5 stars.

It will never happen

Jr bang on with your assessment including V4 gone this summer.

Can't agree with the payroll though, at least if its still PSE. They will chop to the bottom level of the cap to reduce losses.

Bolts badly need to win the Stamkos lottery. If they do then Lecavalier's trade this summer brings back a great depth package and they are then a young team with a shot at the playoffs. What wrong with that folks?

Totally agree they have overpriced the franchise, most likely trying to recoup the 20 mill they claim to have lost. With no playoffs this year guess we can make that about 28 million net revenue sharing.

Thats a dream selling price in this market

They have to go cheap or move the team.

The other clock ticking is revenue sharing. Certain PAID levels of attendance need to be achieved to keeping sucking 10 mill a year off the NHL revenue sharing teat, which is finaced mostly by the Cnadaian teams and 50% of NHL playoff revenues.

All but Boltfalsher know Tampas'reported gate figures are a crock.

They sit around 18th in the league in paid and the bogus PR over the last two years here can't bode well for next years seasons ticket sales.

[jr]

Sorry bingo. thousands of financial websites and sources have no record of it. Hockey writers, many of them shills for management and the NHL, don't count. Their sources are the hockey teams. DUH!

And, BTW, you have been a consistent apologist for management. There is litle doubt you are a PSE employe or a relative of one.

We have a buyer without the necesary money, we have no lender willing to commit to an inflated purchase price, and we have PSE scum that has lied to the press and public on a consistent basis. That is the type of source you have cited. Not credible!!

[boltflasher]

After reading those two links to Societe General, I am stunned at the lack of fiscal responsibility and oversight...accidently transferring several hundred thousand to the NJDevils as well as an incredible $7.2 billion loss in unauthorized trades???? Is that number correct?

[léo Çh]

Nuts.
I knew it was too easy.
I ain't here to smack-talk. I've encouraged Tampa all year long, despite the obvious signs of can't-go-anywhereness of the club.
The Torter's increasing incidents of finding faults in his depleted roster's efforts and the grossness of the blame he attaches to them only accentuates the fact that the Bolt team as we know it is NOT VIABLE.....this year, anyway.
But hockey is an ebb and flow; you'll be back. If this season doesn't do it for you anymore, I would totally understand if you tuned out. (Once my Boys are Out, I don't care if the Shangai Rebels win the Cup.)
Others change allegiances...for LOTS of different reasons, another team has similar system, has a player you like, is a cinderella team, an underdog team, whatever. Or because you HATE another team, another player, coach, sytem; you'll follow to see them crash, whatever.
Just sayin,
It's Our last game tonight. Against Toranna. Toranna does not Fear Us, never have; they Hate Us too much. They beat us last game; they showed up all year against us. Last game (lineup changes, Koivu out,Kovy snoring,Halak in there,they Mailed it in) you could FEEL IT; they felt like Losing just to remember what it was like. 'Member what I said at the time? Aaaaaaall part of the Plan.
But THIS game, you can FEEL it too. Think it's gonna be a Smack-Down. In Montreal. Final season game. The Fans, man. Saying thank you to their team....
In case you're interested.
We'd love to have ya.
SFF

[bingo]

JR and others who have repeatedly mentioned a hoax about Societe Generale closing the sports book. Please do us all a favor and shut your 'Yap'.

Here are two links.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/356973
and
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/57949

also a simple search from www.google.com will return a few pages worth.

enter this search criteria.

Societe General+Sports Lending

and then please return to blogging about something you at least do minimal research on.

The Bingo.....

Have a nice fruitful day.....

Go Habs Go..... lol

[bingo]

JR and others who have repeatedly mentioned a hoax about Societe Generale closing the sports book. Please do us all a favor and shut your 'Yap'.

Here are two links.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/356973
and
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/57949

also a simple search from www.google.com will return a few pages worth.

enter this search criteria.

Societe General+Sports Lending

and then please return to blogging about something you at least do minimal research on.

The Bingo.....
Societe General not closing it's sports book. Here is the article that you could not find....... simple Google search.

"Societe Generale+sports lending"

[Hockey Chic]

Hey fellow posters I have an idea how bout we sign up for the officiating crew.

I have to say that I was suprised Bettman and his goons even applied a fine. I thought it would go status quo as it as many times in the past. They blew a call NO WAY. I cannot believe I read that officials admitted it.

Hey toto we are not in Kansas anymore. Wake up and smell the freakin coffee Bettman and see that this kind of crap is not going to surfice any longer for officiating. I say we up the ante on Cooke and the officials by taking money from all the bloggers who are sick of this sorry ##*&^&^ excuse for officiating and fairness in their NHL.

Go Bolts!!!

Heres hoping The Crapitals are out in the first round... Take down Crapitals, Ovey and his goons...

I guess I have another team I despise equally as well as the Trashers. The list is growing peeps and I have to agree with Amanda the caps fans needs to find a new place to play. Although I am sure we could show him/or her a great time in Tampa. Bring it on...
Go Bolts!!

[jr]

We know PSE has no pride and doesn't consider the fans' interest but....if they have any sense, they will sever the purchase agreement with the penniless uncommitted Koules, lower the asking price to a realistic, marketplace level and seek an enthusiastic buyer with the required financial committment.

They are simply not going to get anyone without a leaky cranium to fork over $200 million for something that on its absolutely best day is worth $180M. They need to fire Sal Galioto, the charlatan who couldn't deliver a loan from the compahy who lists him as a consultant. There are no Internet reports of Societe Generale no longer making sports loans except in Lightning press releases. This clown used SG's other woes as a fig leaf for his failure to deliver. I actually believe PSE swallowed his alibi.

The new committed ownership needs to exorcise the inept GM and cancerous coach and get the highest offer for Lecavalier. He's not staying here. They need to spend around $50M in payroll to resurrect the franchise. They need to be patient about the surrounding real estate which may not be prudently developed for at least 5 years.

And the new owners should be aware that there are far fewer gullible fans than there were a year ago. Price increases for ticket packages are not remotely practical, even in a healthy economic environment. Tampa's unemployment trend is one of the worst in the country. It ranks near the top in real estate depreciation. And that doesn't take into account the poor product they are trying to peddle.

The St Pete Times can't be counted on the come close to reporting the facts surrounding this abortion of an organization. Too many conflicts of interest. The bloggers have led the way in reporting the shenannigans of ownership, not by days but by weeks and in some cases, months. In other cities with similar situations, at least the fans would have the media on their side.

[Amanda]

Caps Fan: you realize how incredibly sad it is that you actually get your jollies by "smack talking" in the comments section of another team's newspaper, right? I mean, seriously? Are you going to start making mean posts on people's MySpace accounts next? You're the kind of fan that other Caps fans are embarrassed of. So your hockey team went further in the season than our hockey team did. You're still the one people are laughing at.

[bear]

As in Go Leafs Go?

[léo Çh]

Well done, Bear.
Gee, now I gotta find sumpin' else.
A new signature should work until Goofy gets his hands on a french keyboard.
So how'bout,
GHG?
Or is that too easy?
If it isn't, I'll keep it; if it is, I'll go with,
SFF
Call me Léo Çh.
But leo'll do.
Peace

[Stacey]

Yeah Duuuuuhh, you all should know! We're talking to an expert here! Fined Cooke? Joke. Fired ref? Then we'd be talkin'! I'm not saying there was any intent to hurt but he sure as shite knew what he was doing and don't you ever think otherwise. You think we whine, Duuuuuhh? Then why are you still here? Just WHINING that Cooke did nothing wrong! Takes one to know one.

[Bear]

Leo your mental description of Lapierre was beautiful..sounds like Florida's present to the world, George Dubya

Playoffs BBR baby

Les blue blanc rouge
(not the imposter)

[duhh]

If the NHL wanted the Caps in the playoffs so much, why did the Panthers get NINE (9) penalty calls vs. ZERO (0) against Carolina tonight?

They fined Cooke as a sop to keep you guys from embarassing the NHL next season. It won't work, of course, if Tortorella is still around.

The first sign of a schmidty team: the players whine; second - the coach whines; third - the fans whine. When you have all three, you have ... a high draft pick.

FIRE THE REF THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY SCREWED UP

[Herb]

Again Vinny should have not been in the game after Monday's home loss to the Trash but Torts is a freakin' idiot for taking chances on his star player. I blame Torts more than any Craps player. It was great to see the 'Canes lose tonight. I thought John Foreskin and Tripp Dumbass were going to cry after the "Canes loss to the 'Turds tonight. It truly was a thing of beauty.

[Bob]

I've watched the hit 20 times, Vinnie looks over sees Cooke coming and puts a shoulder into him. He just came out on the short end this time, perhaps because Cooke is so short. Torts need to whine in some other city next year!

[TJ]

$2500? and NO suspension? that's about what I'd expect from this league. They got what they wanted. the Caps with a chance to get into the playoffs. I dearly hope the Caps (if they even make it) and the Pens get skunked in the first round. Then I can thumb my nose at the NHL "braintrust" (use that term loosely) and say, "so there you go"... I guess that means it's ok to go after the talents in this league...unless they are named Ovechkin or Crosby... hmmmm, wonder how good "Ovie" can fight? I don't think I'll even ask about Crosby... I do wish Andre or even O.B. were playing in that game. It might have gotten very interesting in the 3rd. I just hope Vinny isn't hurt too badly and can bounce back next season. I have heard the ugly "s" word mentioned (that's "surgery") for Vinny. Anybody got any updates?

[leo]

Imposter's back.
Folks,
Anything that sounds mean-spirited will NEVER be me.
Please use judgement.
BBR
P.S. What does "BBR" mean, imposter?

[leo]

Sounds like the fantastic resumé of a 3rd liner to me, Matt. What line does Cooke play on in WashCity?
If he forces the other team to take penalties at the same rate as well, I'd have him on my team in a second.
As I would Ruutu.
And Neil.
And Avery.
And any other insidious bast*** who can get into the opponent's head by acting the prig.
Ruutu Always turtles; drives opponents mad. They wanna moida'im so much they LOSE THEIR FOCUS.
Is it dirty? You bet it is. Hurts like heck when it comes right down to it; trust me, I know. Name Materazzi mean anything to you?
He's got a World Cup.
That's all that matters no matter how much it hurts to admit it.
It hurts my frenchinicity like you can't imagine. But that doesn't make the World Cup any less his.
Think the Cappers took Cooke at the deadline for his sunny disposition and sense of fair-play?
Takes all sorts to make a team, Matt.
Even the occasional rat-bast*** prig.
Washers felt they needed a prig and that's it. So far it's worked out.
Ours is Lapierre. Still needs to work on his bast***ness a bit though; he's too nice. But he gives you that smirk of retarded self-satisfaction that makes you wanna knock his teeth out with absolute brilliance; it's Great! Would'I've a team full of him? Course not.
But ONE is Great!
BBR

[Lisa]

Matt, Cooke sounds just like Neil. Lets hope Florida leaves some bodies on the ice.

[Matt]

If you people think you've seen the last cheap shot from Matt Cooke, think again. He's doing that stuff every game, slewfooting forwards into the boards, running defencemen from behing trying to get the puck, flattening goalies the whole time. Having watched him here in Vancouver for years, believe me we don't miss him. And, to make matters worse, if you send a tough guy after him, he turtles and will refuse to fight. Good luck!

[Casper]

Marketing savvy: draw up some T-shirts with Washington’s #24 squarely in the sniper’s crosshairs. [But for pete's sake don't use the same guy who made the accursed new Bolts Logo.]
That little nose picker Cooke shouldn’t make any long term plans for a career in this league.

Alex Ovechkin is a phenomenal talent but the influx of interlopers on this blog leaves me with no moral qualms about one of the Stinking Panthers doing an Ulfie-to Cam Neely on Ovechkin.
So there. See how y’all like it. It would serve dipsh## Bettman and the Toronto suits right.

I’m still rocked by Ajax’ revelation on an Officials’ revenue sharing agreement. How does *that*--no caps--- ensure integrity?

[leo]

Excellent article, boltflasher, thanx!
I especially like how the word "Integrity" was thrown in there, kinda like a knock on what the NHL has now.
I didn't know Stewart was an enforcer. Wow, kind've explains alot, don't it though?
Hey,
Maybe I should apply!
I'm biased as heck. I'd toss calls in Tampa's favor, fersure.
Maybe another team too...
BBR

[Lisa]

Looks like the NHL just gave the go ahead for goons to take out superstars. It would have been better just to say nothing than to fine them 2 minutes work.

Joe, put the bounty on Ovechkin, and maybe they will learn not to go after other super stars. A bounty on Cooke won't do a thing.

[boltflasher]

How ironic: NHL Looking for New Refs!!!
Stephen Walkom, the NHL's senior vice president and director of officiating says the NHL is looking for ex college players who are athletic, have a strong skating ability, have a strong understanding of the game at a high level, are passionate about the game, are accustomed to having high expectations placed upon them and have a desire to stay involved in the game.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?page=brophy080402

[Joe]

I have a $50 bounty for the first man who takes out Cooke in the pre-season game next year! And a $2 bounty for taking out caps fan.

[Lisa]

Why bother? That is so insignificant that it is an insult. Keep the stupid fine. The NHL got what they wanted: the Capitals winning the game.

Caps fan, we don't have any more goons, so there was no way that we had 5 goons out there. And I hope that Ovechkin keeps his head swiveling from now on whenever playing the bolts because obviously the Caps think that hitting players that don't have the puck is allowed. I have never cheered when a player is down, but I may have a change of heart when Ovechkin is lying on the ice not moving. And eye for an eye.

[tbl35]

caps fan talking about the golf season...something they're VERY familiar with, I guess!

who does boudreau think he was kidding? cooke knew damn well who he was hitting & should have seen vinny didn't have the puck.

that said, he's getting punished for a blown call by the officials. they should be the ones getting a fine.

[caps fan]

Where's the fine/suspension for Torts sending out 5 goons on a 4 man unit at the end?

How about accountability for the bs non-goal call on Laich's tally.

Enjoy the golf season.

[chris]

Gotta agree with Boudreau, $10,000 at least for the antics at the end. Sure would have been nice to have had Roy out instead of Junior though. Officials kind of weak all game, Big Big V4 fan but looked kind of innocent at first, pretty funky bounce around though. Was getting the caps feed on centerice so of course didn't get the best replay on it.
Real weak explaining by the real Boudreau

[Nan]

Oh, Come on! Why even bother? This is the equivalent of "just slap his hand, and don't do it again". Shame, shame!

Where is tha accountability of the officials who missed the call? Damian, you got anything on that? NHL thinks this is a 5 minute interference and the officials completely miss the call? What is the response from the referees on the ice? There are no fines or sanctions made against the officials? Just the players and coaches? The NHL has serious problems!