The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed free agent defenceman Ian Cole to a one-year contract worth $3 million. This contract carries him through the 2022-3 season.
Hearing #tblightning and D Ian Cole have agreed to terms on a 1-year, $3 million deal.@DailyFaceoff
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 13, 2022
Ian Cole Signs in Tampa
Over his 12-year NHL career, Cole has played for the St. Louis Blues, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Colorado Avalanche, the Minnesota Wild and most recently the Carolina Hurricanes. He was originally drafted in the first round, 18th overall, by the Blues in the 2007 NHL Draft. He has put up 29 goals and 136 assists for 165 points in 670 career games, adding 622 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 47.3 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of -4.3.
Cole won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh in 2015-16 and 2016-17. In the playoffs, Cole has two goals and 24 assists for 26 points in 110 career playoff games, adding 83 minutes in penalties. His playoff possession numbers are 46 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of -9.2.
Stone Cole 🥶 pic.twitter.com/S5CHQ3Og2d
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 19, 2022
Last season, Cole had two goals and 17 assists for 19 points in 75 games, adding 83 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 52.6 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of -4.3. In the playoffs, the Hurricanes lost in seven games in the second round to the New York Rangers. Cole had one goal and one assist for two points in 14 games, adding 10 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 46.0 percent and a relative Corsi of -9.2.
What This Means for the Future
Cole averaged 17:09 of ice time last season, typically on the third pairing for the Hurricanes. He blocked 104 shots, had 110 hits, but had 29 takeaways compared to his 48 giveaways. He also led the Hurricanes with 83 minutes in penalties. With just 19 points, the 33-year-old didn’t have his best season either offensively or defensively and sure took a lot of penalties. But he does bring to the table valuable experience by knowing what it takes to win. Every team needs players like that.
