LW Matt Cooke

Like the enforcer position, Ray Shero replaced the agitator role nicely (as it seems right now), in Matt Cooke. Jarkko Ruutu was the Penguins former agitator and a good ‘goon’ too. He left though during this past off-season to the Ottawa Senators so Shero had to sign an adequate agitator. He proceeded signed a pretty good one in Matt Cooke. Like Ruutu, Cooke can get opponents off their game and tick them off. He can also hold his own very nicely as a penalty-killer. Cooke has even been labeled as the better version of Jarkko Ruutu, by some Penguins fans. However, Cooke is injury prone and it’s to be expected for him to miss a few games this year. Expect for Cooke to play either on the third line as an ‘energy guy’, or to be a healthy scratch in most games.

Career Stats: 210 points, 86 goals, 124 assists

Vancouver Canucks: 203 points, 83 goals, 120 assists

Washington Capitals: 7 points, 3 goals, 4 assists

Pittsburgh Penguins: 0 points, 0 goals, 0 assists

2008/2009 Season Stats: 0 points, 0 goals, 0 assists