Matt Cooke Admits He Needs to Change Style of Play, Pledging ‘My Actions Will Speak Louder Than Words’

Maybe the NHL has gotten through to Matt Cooke. Maybe he realizes he has to take control of the situation. Regardless, Cooke is saying the right things following his most recent suspension.

On Monday night, Cooke addressed the situation, admitting that he does indeed “need to change” hours after learning that he would be suspended for the team’s final 10 regular-season games, as well as the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“I’m fortunate that Ryan McDonagh wasn’t hurt,” Cooke told Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I don’t want to hurt anybody. That’s not my intention. I know that I can be better.

“I made a mistake. I’m the one that’s accountable for that. I take full responsibility for it. I’m sorry to my teammates, my management, my coaching staff and my organization. It’s something that, moving forward, I’ll make different.”

Cooke also went on to essentially characterize his hits over the years as isolated incidents, saying that they’ve all been different.

“It’s a learning process. It doesn’t just stop with being suspended. It also doesn’t just stop with words. My actions will prove it.

“I just think that it’s in my play, the way that I play. As I just said, my actions will speak louder than words. That’s what matters most.”