Ryan McDonagh on Cooke suspension: "Pretty big statement"

            The rookie defenseman, blindsided by Matt Cooke Sunday, took part in the Rangers optional this morning in Westchester and is cleared to play against the Panthers.

             "I feel good," he said, "my legs didn;t have as much energy but that probably comes from not skating yesterday....the pain in my jaw is slowly going away, day by day, so I should be able to go tonight."

             He said he spoke "with the training staff on some things I should be doing to get better...my neck on the left side is still a little sore."

            On the suspension: "The league is really pushing to get these things out of the game, so it's a pretty big statement for sure."