Confirmed with Link: Matt Cooke (Released from Wild)

[mezcal]

I knew from the start that this was going to be a really good signing. Smart move by Fletch.

 

[Avder]

Just curious, but why do you hate Bertuzzi and not Cooke?

They both have ended careers, though I'd say Cooke's track record of nastiness is much more lengthy than Bertuzzi's.

Everything Cooke has ever done is at least on some level forgivable. And he seems genuinely changed and ready to put things behind him.

Bertuuzi on the other hand is first and foremost, a giant dick. His comments to Wild fans waiting to buy game 6 tickets in 03 are the roots of my hate.

The Steve Moore incident is the whole rest of the tree. That was almost literally attempted murder on ice. There was no hockey play there. That was premeditated assault and after an incident like that I think Bertuuzi has no business playing hockey anywhere. I wouldn't even want him coaching a peewee team. Furthermore, the last time I looked, he was pulling all kinds of crap in the civil suit that Moore filed against him. It's probably still dragging on.

 

[BigT2002]

Everything Cooke has ever done is at least on some level forgivable. And he seems genuinely changed and ready to put things behind him.

Bertuuzi on the other hand is first and foremost, a giant dick. His comments to Wild fans waiting to buy game 6 tickets in 03 are the roots of my hate.

The Steve Moore incident is the whole rest of the tree. That was almost literally attempted murder on ice. There was no hockey play there. That was premeditated assault and after an incident like that I think Bertuuzi has no business playing hockey anywhere. I wouldn't even want him coaching a peewee team. Furthermore, the last time I looked, he was pulling all kinds of crap in the civil suit that Moore filed against him. It's probably still dragging on.

Do you know if it is Canadian or United States where the civil suit was filed?

 

[Avder]

Do you know if it is Canadian or United States where the civil suit was filed?

I believe it was in Canada.

 

[TaLoN]

Matt Cooke to get Bought out

From NBC Sports

Well, looks like we'll be stuck with Backstrom sucking up a roster spot again...

Per CapFriendly, the buyout will result in a cap hit of $500,000 for next season and $1 million in 2016-17.

 

[Minnesota]

Figured I'd merge his buyout thread with his signing thread. His career with the Wild has come full circle.

 

[gphr513]

All in all, I appreciated his service. I think he provided a little something that we needed at the time.

From the glimpses inside the locker room we saw (particularly during last year's playoffs when he was suspended), he was a good locker room guy, too.

 

[TaLoN]

He was an asset his first year. Not so much the last.

 

[IHaveNoCreativity]

Wish we never paid him 2.5M..

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Don't like the extra $1M of dead money next summer, with Zucker, Dumba and Spurgeon needing new deals.

 

[Puhis]

He did well. Good PK guy, scored some timely goals for us and didn't commit many atrocities either. Yeah, he was probably overpaid, but considering we handed Torrey Mitchell $1.9m, not by much.

It sucks to see him bought out, but it was also a necessary move business-wise. I never thought I'd say this, but... Thank you Matt Cooke. You did well.

 

[Sharppi]

Thanks Cooke, I liked you. That knee on Barrie was stupid, but I liked you. You play for the team and want to win.

1046 games in the NHL, that's something huge.

 

[DANOZ28]

i believe cooke tried his best to clean up his act and he played better than i expected however i will always believe CF made a mistake signing him.

 

[PuckInTheNards]

Bertuuzi on the other hand is first and foremost, a giant dick. His comments to Wild fans waiting to buy game 6 tickets in 03 are the roots of my hate.

Oddly enough, I went the other way on that - I always thought it was kinda cool that he would engage in trash talk with our fans. Plus, it made it all the more satisfying when we won. I actually liked Bertuzzi until the Moore incident (no forgiveness for that).

I hated the Cooke signing nearly as much as I hated the Simon signing. Glad he's gone.

 

[gphr513]

Unsurprisingly, he cleared waivers.

 

[W75]

It was time to move on, but he was much much better what I feared. Appreciate his effort and moral as a Wild. Wish all the best.

 

[nickschultzfan]

Unsurprisingly, he cleared waivers.

I am an attorney, and I am confused by the unconditional release talk.

General an unconditional release would only happen if both sides agree to end the contract. And I don't see Cooke agreeing to that because he stands to make $3 million this year from the Wild and no other team is going to pay him that.

Did Fletcher tell him that the Wild would cover any payment gap? Is that even allowed?

 

[J22*]

I am an attorney, and I am confused by the unconditional release talk.

General an unconditional release would only happen if both sides agree to end the contract. And I don't see Cooke agreeing to that because he stands to make $3 million this year from the Wild and no other team is going to pay him that.

Did Fletcher tell him that the Wild would cover any payment gap? Is that even allowed?

I would assume that it's written either in the CBA or in each SPC that the contract can be bought out without the players consent.

I would try to find it for you but I'm tired of getting my ass kicked by the CBA.

 

[nickschultzfan]

I would assume that it's written either in the CBA or in each SPC that the contract can be bought out without the players consent.

I would try to find it for you but I'm tired of getting my ass kicked by the CBA.

If he just means a buyout, that makes sense. Just odd phrasing calling it a "unconditional" release. That implies no buyout is happening.

 

[plock]

If he just means a buyout, that makes sense. Just odd phrasing calling it a "unconditional" release. That implies no buyout is happening.

They bought out his contract at which point he was unconditionally released,same as it ever was.

 

[nickschultzfan]

They bought out his contract at which point he was unconditionally released,same as it ever was.

Yeah, just saying a buyout is a "conditional" not "unconditional" release. I get that Russo is saying that Cooke can sign with anybody, but I confused myself thinking something else was going on.

 

[TaLoN]

If he just means a buyout, that makes sense. Just odd phrasing calling it a "unconditional" release. That implies no buyout is happening.

It means he is released from the roster because he will be bought out soon and has already been informed of such.

It allows him to start his negotiations whether the buyout is completed or not.

He will still be bought out.

As seen here...

The Minnesota Wild have placed veteran left wing Matt Cooke on waivers, for the purpose of granting him his unconditional release.

The Wild announced Thursday they will buy out the final season of Cooke's contract, provided his clearance through waivers. He will become an unrestricted free agent eligible to sign with any team except Minnesota. The 36-year-old was set to make $3 million in 2015-16.

General manager Chuck Fletcher, in a statement from the team, said the move was a ''difficult decision'' driven by the desire for more flexibility under the salary cap.

 

[Avder]

Well, so long, Cookie Monster.

 

[Wild11MN]

Had a solid first year. Injuries slowed him down this year. I wouldn't call him ineffective this year, but not very effective either if that makes sense. Just a business move for sure. At least we'll lose a bunch of haters now.

 

[FVM]

Cooke was a good bottom-6 forward and veteran presence. Loved the bits we saw of him in the locker room very enthusiastically cheering everyone on. Seems like a genuine team guy. Too bad he became replaceable at this point and was injured all too much. Just too big cap hit for his current value.