Penguins Re-Sign Public Enemy No. 1: Matt Cooke

By KC Downey in Bruins, News ⋅ June 24, 2010 at 2:13am ⋅ Post a comment

Matt Cooke is most well-kn0wn in these parts for his cheap, yet devastating hit on center Marc Savard that ended Savard’s regular season. Savard, of course, returned for the Flyers series in the second round of the playoffs, but wasn’t so impressive while still working himself into playing shape. Cooke can be blamed for that.

Cooke skated and hit Savard right in the head, which was considered a legal hit at the time and the Penguins goon was not penalized or suspended. Cooke got what he deserved two weeks later when Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton knocked him on his ass in a loss to the Penguins…and then again a couple weeks after that at the hands of Atlanta’s Evander Kane.

Why are we recapping the events of last season? Well, the Penguins re-signed the beloved Cooke to a three-year, $5.4 million contract. Considered one of the team’s top penalty killers, Cooke, who would have been a free agent July 1, finished with 15 goals and 15 assists with a +17 rating during the 2009-10 season.

For your information, the Bruins play Cooke’s Penguins four times next season: on Nov. 10, Jan. 10, Jan. 15, and Mar. 5.