Eugene Melnyk spends 7 million a year on this guy. I have read and heard a lot of people criticizing his comments., but he has the right.
As of now, no one can prove definitively whether the incident was purposeful or accidental. He wants to put his own money into potentially proving intent, he is allowed to protect his assets. In fact- if a businessman doesn't explore damages for something as serious as this, he is irresponsible.
I highly doubt people would be so closed-minded about a rich guy trying to prove if damage to his Ferrari was purposeful or accidental. The only difference here is that Erik Karlsson is a human and is worth more than 14 times that of a Ferrari. You can't say Eugene Melnyk shouldn't get kudos for looking after his own, any player would love to be on a team where the owner cares this much.
Cooke slit Karlsson's leg open TO THE BONE, that is morbid and sick. Accidental or not, this guys' past is too much of a coincidence not to look into this further. Even if he didn't have the past he does and even if this WAS accidental, he still should have been suspended. Provided this was accidental, this is the most reckless 'accidental' play to ever happen in the NHL, that in and of itself deserves some discipline.
Cooke is very much akin to Brian Boyle in that they're both pussaaaaysss that try to do the tough guy thing and then when the piper comes, they are too cowardly to drop the gloves. I'm not one to wish physical pain on another human, but I wish Carkner was here to jump Cooke WORSE than what he did to Boyle. Let's see what Neil, Kassian, Cowen and/or Smith have to say on Monday. I'll be there.