from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

While the forensic investigation into whether the Pittsburgh Penguins’ shift disturber intentionally sliced the Achillies tendon of the club’s top defenceman on Feb. 13 continues, Melnyk won’t speak until the results are complete.

“Look, it’s got nothing to do with settling down,” said Melnyk. “I’ve committed to not say anything about it until we’ve completed everything we need to do, and speak to the league about it.

“I’ll do anything I have to do to protect my players. It’s as simple as that, and that’s exactly what I’m doing there, and after that I can’t really comment.

“It’ll take a couple of months before anything really comes out.”

Melnyk doesn’t believe there will be retribution against Cooke when he arrives here Monday with the Penguins.

“I don’t think so. We don’t care about those kinds of players,” said Melnyk. “They’re not the ones we’re worried about for Pittsburgh. We have to worry about the elite players and that’s what they’re going to be focused on.

read on