I guess you can call Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk nothing if not persistent. Laughable, perhaps, but when Melnyk went on Toronto airwaves and stated that he had hired a forensic investigator to look into the intent of former Penguins pest (now Minnesota Wild pest) Matt Cooke’s severing of Erik Karlsson’s ankle a lot of people, including myself, rolled their eyes.
May 24, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Matt Cooke (24) greets Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) in the traditional post series hand shake line after the third period of game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 6-2 to close out the series. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Well, almost a year after the incident, Melnyk and Senators GM Bryan Murray were spotted at the NHL head offices this afternoon, and insider guru Bob McKenzie of TSN
Interesting, on day of Torts hearing in NYC, OTT owner Eugene Melnyk, GM Bryan Murray, NHLPA exec director Don Fehr seen going into NHL HQ.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 20, 2014
It's believed they're there as part of Melnyk's forensic investigation into Matt Cooke's skate cut on Erik Karlsson last season.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 20, 2014
Melnyk maintained at time of incident that Cooke did it intentionally and vowed to prove it. NHL exonerated Cooke at that time.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 20, 2014
If this is indeed the reason why they are in New York, I question why? It’s not like the NHL, after not imposing any discipline at the time, is going to be swayed to the point where they will do it retroactively. It just seems like it is time to let bygones be bygones and turn the page. What’s done is done and nothing that comes out of this meeting, whether substantive or not, is going to change what happened a year ago.
When Melnyk first made his statement, I wrote that it was a ridiculous notion and I still feel the same way. It smacks of whining and I don’t like it. The play in question was a hockey play, like it or not, and the precision that would have been required at game speed to intentionally stick the blade of your skate between the back of another player’s skate and his leg without looking is slim and none.
Let it go, move on, and stop making the Senators look ridiculously silly over the whole incident.