Veteran Defenceman Lands with Utah

Ian Cole Keeps Going

Cole was a July 1st signing for the Vancouver Canucks leading into 2023-24. Everyone knew their defence needed an overhaul, but $3 million to a free agent well into his 30s was surprising. Vancouver was his fifth team in five seasons – never the best sign.

Still, he was a decent veteran for a team that needed one. It was part of the plan to improve a disastrous penalty kill and round out the bottom pair. He was used quite a lot with Tampa Bay, but fans can be forgiven if he wasn’t the player they paid attention to.

A funny thing happened on the way to a designated spot on the bottom pair, though. Cole came through.

If a defenceman wasn’t playing with Quinn Hughes, then they played their best hockey beside Cole. Going by Money Puck‘s expected goals, that was true of everyone on the Canucks defence.

Noah Juulsen? His best numbers are with Ian Cole. Mark Friedman? At his best with Cole. Carson Soucy? Cole again. Tyler Myers? Quinn Hughes, but then with Cole. Same story with Nikita Zadorov and Filip Hronek.

What to Expect

Age has affected one aspect of Ian Cole’s career: the three contracts before this one were all for a single season. And this one is too. Clearly, there is some suspicion about his ability to maintain a high level of play. On the other hand, he’s also made the playoffs every year for the past decade. Maybe he’s a good luck charm.

What he actually is, is a solid defensive player with good skating and enough size for opponents to notice him. His game is mostly mental at this point, and he knows how to contribute to however the game is played that night. He will be one of the first over the boards to kill penalties, though any points he gives you are a bonus.