The NHL Department of Player safety announced today that Minnesota Wild forward Matt Cooke has been suspended for seven games as a result of his knee on knee hit on Colorado Avalanche defenceman Tyson Barrie in game three of their first round playoff series earlier this week. Barrie suffered a sprained knee on the play and is out for the next four to six weeks (Sports Injury Alert).
If the suspension is not fully served in this year’s playoffs it will carry over to the start of the 2014-15 Regular Season.
Cooke has 48 hours to appeal the decision to Gary Bettman. A further appeal would go to an independent arbitrator agreed upon by the NHL and the NHLPA.
The suspension is the sixth of Cooke’s career. He was given a two-minute penalty for kneeing on the play. Despite the long history of suspensions, Cooke was technically not a repeat offender under the terms of the CBA as he has not been fined or suspended for 18 months.
Feb. 19, 2004: 2 games – Spearing (Matt Johnson, MIN)
Jan. 20, 2009: 2 games – Illegal check to head (Scott Walker, CAR)
Nov. 28, 2009: 2 games – Illegal check to head (Artem Anisimov, NYR)
Feb. 8, 2011: 4 games – Hit from behind (Fedor Tyutin, CBJ)
March 20, 2011: 17 games (10 regular season and first round of playoffs) – Elbow to the head (Ryan McDonagh, NYR)
April 23, 2014: 7 games – Kneeing (Tyson Barrie, COL)
Cooke’s hit on Marc Savard in 2010 that caused a concussion was not a suspendable offence, but was something that led to the implementation of new NHL rules against hits to the head.
Cooke was also the player who cut Erik Karlsson’s Achilles tendon last season with his skate. However this was determined to be accidental by the NHL, and most analysts agreed with that ruling.
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
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