Canes sign Cole to 2-year deal
The Hurricanes have signed free-agent forward Erik Cole to a two-year contract.
Cole, an unrestricted free agent, will be paid $2.8 million next season and $3 million in the 2010-2011 season.
7:15 UPDATE: General manager Jim Rutherford said he has been in constant discussions today with Chad LaRose's agent, Pat Morris and it was possible a decision could be reached. Now it appears it will go at least another day.
"Erik clearly had an instant impact on our team when he returned to Carolina in March,” Rutherford said in announcing Cole's signing. “He has been an important piece for our franchise for a long time and we are pleased that he has decided to remain at home in Raleigh.”
Cole received $4 million last season in finishing out a three-year contract he signed with Carolina in 2006.
"It's important for a professional athlete to make money but it's also important to be with a team and among people you want to be with," said Steve Bartlett, Cole's agent. "We told Jim (Rutherford) we would not drag this out ... but we did want to make an informed decision.
"Erik's excited. He's got a Hurricane (logo) tattooed somewhere on his body."
About the blogger
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is in his second season as the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @ice_chip.
Comments
An awesome deal...
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 13:40 — CanesAreBoringfor Cole. 2.8 million-3million for 1 trick. Not bad.
See Cole skate with reckless abandon down the right wing and crash into the opposing team goalie. He should be offered a bonus for each time he can come up with another skill besides that.
Staal is still in dire need of someone who can protect and open the ice for him with more than one trick.
Wonder y no team was choppn at that old bait.
Good for Joki (I like his play), Woulda traded Ruutu for a younger...hmm Ladd style. Get rid of Bab heck get rid of the whole D (poor ole Cam).
I like the realization by Rutherford about needing to recruit bigger players...hmmm wonder who was bashed for bringing that up years ago.
I don't agree about any type of goal be it "trash" or what not as all that matters. Take a look at the SU vs Cornell NCAA Div 1 champ game in Lax. The crowd was booing Cornell because they kept trying to slow and stall the game. When SU fought back in OT it was one of the most exciting games I ever saw in Lax. Stylish and skillfully played goals! Definitely took more than one trick.
A bit pricey...
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 10:04 — Hockeydogfor his performance over the last 2 years but Cole has the ability to make that contract a steal for the Canes if he figures out how to be consistent. In reality Cole did handle this signing well. You can't blame a guy if he wants to see what he's worth, but he didn't wait long at all to come back to the team. I think he showed respect to this organization by taking a quick peek at a possible huge payday but not trying to string the team along.
As for Larose, since we don't know what both sides are looking at it's hard to judge. I also can see him wanting to test the market but it really shouldn't take him too long to realize his worth as a free agent. Rutherfords job is to get the the best player he can for the money. If the two can't come together then JR has to try and grab a UFA while he can that fits the bill. Nothing wrong with each side doing whats best for themselves, but Rosey could find himself out of this organization and on a team that he won't be as successful with and for not much more money. We all love his hustle and tenacity but he's nothing to hold up the progress of the team as it realtes to filling positions this fall.
Cole & Rosie
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 06:19 — NetMinder6' 2" 205 lbs. Last four seasons — 30, 29, 22, 18 goals — 59, 61, 51, 42 pts. Cole has a bad year and scores 18 goals. LaRose has a career year and scores 19 goals. Show Rosie — all 5' 10" 180 lbs. of him — the door. Lock and latch it. The Canes need size, a physical presence — not an undersized, overachieving agitator wannabe who happened to have a helluva year.
Opposite Trajectories
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 08:03 — JRs_FaultI'm glad they were able to get Cole done... but I think they overpaid (slightly).
Cole has had a couple 'bad' years running now, but what he brings (when he brings it) is not all on the scoresheet.
Everybody talks about LaRose's "Career Year"... I call it a natural progression, and expect him to string together a few 20+ goal seasons in a row has he moves into his prime. He was a big time scorer @ Plymouth (119 pts in 02-03), he's also become quite a guy on the PK. Remember, it was only in 2006 that he was the up&down 13th forward for this team.
larose does have plenty of
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 08:06 — clementnormanlarose does have plenty of value with his speed and willingness to do anything for the team. but larose is far form a goal scorer. i bet 80 of his goals are trash goals, how often does he rip a wrister or slapper into a corner? not very much at all. his goals are rebounds and pucks that sneak in. not that theres anything wrong with that but it is just hard to project a guy like that to 20+ seasons with no pp time and 3rd line min.
goals are goals
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 08:36 — JRs_Faultas you say, there's nothing wrong with trash goals. lot's of Esposito's goals were 'trash', lots of Brindy's career goals are 'trash'... Trash goals come from playing the way that LaRose plays. He got a bit of PP last year, and stands to get more going forward.
Bottom line, I don't care how they come, but if I have a guy in my bottom 6 forwards that can produce ~20G/40pts a year and play the way he did on the PK, I want to keep him, and I would go up to 2M to do it in this league.
Oh my god
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 21:22 — gettinroughI hate the hurricanes. With a passion.migraine relief,Ways to grow taller naturally
Ignore
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 09:45 — wxray1Ignore the comment spammer. Don't click the link.
They killed us with email spam, now the thing is blog comment spam. Don't participate. Don't click it.
Correct you are - To Robotron
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 20:57 — esteban1949I knew you were right, and only God,Mr.Morris,Jr & Chad knows what the Canes did offer. It was my understand from Chip( here on the canes now site here someplace, that Jr did offer a multi-year deal...but guess what, it wasn't enough gold on the table. i may not always like you may to say sir, humanly speaking that is, but i have to admit, you have been right all the way across the board concerning LaRose. I guess I am rather Naive. Enjoy the rest of your week sir...
Go Canes !!
Nope
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 19:05 — RipskinnyKomisarek is already taken, by Toronto.
We need defensemen. I'd go after Johnny Oduya from the Devils. He plays both ways pretty well and is young enough to still be cheap. Second, I'd go after Greg DeVries. He's a wily veteran who's responsible in our own end and can bang with the best of them. He'd be a good mentor to any rookie d-man who makes the club. After that, maybe Christian Backman of Columbus. He's coming into his own and would make a cheap addition for the third pairing.
Oduya already signed
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 19:20 — dgooseI'm pretty sure I saw somewhere that Oduya had already resigned, but I agree that our D needs some help. However, I think we have some good young defensemen in Albany plus the McBain kid that might could step in and do a good job.
mcbain will be a top 4 guy
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 08:08 — clementnormanmcbain will be a top 4 guy but not this year. D take longer to develop and hes only 21. Carson and rodney are ready for bottom pair min next year. we still need a second pair guy to play with corvo. Scuderi and beauchmen are still availible
I agree but
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 09:42 — dgooseI agree that McBain is probably a year or two away but signing Beauchmen or Scuderi is going to be hard for the Canes to do unless they can unload Wallin or Kabs. I think that JR thinks that some how, some way he can get by with a Wallin/Kaberle/Babchuck playing in the top 4 and mix in Carson/Rodney into the bottom pairing as well.
Nice job Canes!
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 18:29 — kanewmThat's a steal for a player like Cole. Well done. Hopefully they tear it up next season!
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San Diego Investment Property
Good Day
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 17:26 — SWFAN24Nice to see that Cole resigned and hopefully Ryan was a 2 way deal.
Komisarek- would be awesome if we signed him.
Antropov-stay AWAY everything chad larose is he is not. Don't know why some people on this board want him. He might score a few goals, but how many bad defensive plays have cost Toronto and NY
Ummmm
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 17:31 — WAStoutBecause we are already bad defensively....let's get another 30 goals to make up for it....
Maybe Mo can fix him this time...
And
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 17:19 — WAStoutthere was great rejoicing.....yeeeah
Ok....let's spend some money.....pick up Antropov and Komisarek.
DON'T TELL ME BUDGET CRAP.
Karmonos has the money.
Please.
Sports Players Make SOO Much Money!
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 17:18 — lovesallysueWow, they are making quite a few shiny pennies! Wouldn't it be helpful to learn more about some critical tips for a video job interview searc??? In this economy everyone will need this!
plz find something better to do k thx
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 20:20 — whalercanesGo find something better to do than post lame complaints about how sports players make too much money.
This is a decent signing provided it's the Cole that showed up in the regular season, not the playoffs. It's quite a drop from his previous deal which was 4 million
Remember DEFENSE?
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 17:10 — RipskinnyResigning Cole is great and all, and I'm thinking somebody out there might have the $ to steal LaRose away, but even with him, it isn't going to mean a whole lot if they don't do something about the defense.
BTW, part of the Cole decline, besides injury, is what happens to all speedsters - they lose a half step every couple-three seasons, plus opposing defenses learn how to play them. Speed helps the outside move, but he also has size and power and needs to develop a good inside move where those attributes work best. Then he'll again twist some d-men into pretzels. He ought to learn that great Sergei Federov move where he'd start a speed rush to the outside and as soon as the d-man committed, he come inside across the high slot parallel to the goal and fire or pass. Thing of beauty.
Of course, it sure helps Cole to have Eric Stahl as your centerman.
Well Now
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 16:35 — esteban1949The canes have The Juice,Cole,& Ryan signed...all we need now is ...Ruutu & # 59...uhhh what's that guy's name again...esteban snaps his fingers twice...looks up and say...don't tell me...i got it on the tip of my tongue...I'll get it in a moment !!! gee i can see the guys face...a kind of moxie looking scrapper type...uhhh uhhh. I got it ! I got it !! It's Bobby Hull !! Right ? No ?? was it...oh beans...i give up...ok who was it ??
Go Canes !!!
Esteban!
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 16:54 — ammy144LOVE IT!!!! Have a great evening!
ok, I take back my
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 16:34 — PowderedToastManok, I take back my "rutherford's an idiot" comment for getting this Cole deal done. Nice.
Maybe a little too high a price, but glad to have Cole back
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 16:03 — dgooseI think Cole is worth more like $2.5 but hey, what's a 1/2 Million dollars here or there. Welcome back Cole. By the way, I will be disappointed with anything less than 20 Goals and 50 Points so how about taking care of that for me.
Whoohoo
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 16:01 — Canes73Great to have Cole back! Now lets sign Rosie and Ruutu.
How about this?
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 15:45 — fvanaschESPN Ultimate Ratings of professional sports franchises ranks the Canes #2 of all pro sports!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4289483
Methodology is here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4297571
Go Canes!
Who is
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 16:38 — esteban1949espn ?? and what would they know ?? If they were so smart...they could have saved alot of time,money & energy by calling all Hurricane fans...we could have told them as we are #1...i don't care what my dead grandma says...espen...oh please...
Fair Price
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 15:46 — C_LeaguerSeems like a Fair Price to me. What about LaRose? Jokinen has a 1.7 average salary, Cole has a 2.9 average salary. LaRose should be somewhere around 1.85 to 2.25 per. How does this not get done?
If it were me
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 16:45 — esteban1949LaRose would be offered 1.4 for one year...with the provision that if ...i say again IF he can get 25 goals then I'd extend his contract another 2 years @ 1.85 for 2010-2011 & 2.0 for 201-2012...but again..that is IF he can get 25 goals...the guy has the ability and talent to do it. Are we all glad, I am NOT the Hurricanes GM ???
GO Canes !!!
Doesn't work that way Esteban
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 18:50 — robotron2084First, Larose has made it clear he wants a multi-year deal so he'll pass on a one year offer. But anyway, IF he did get those 25 goals this year, he'll get better offers than what you're offering to extend his contract with. Remember, he'd be an unrestricted free agent again after your 1 year deal.
What you describe is a classic approach for restricted free agents, but doesn't work for UFAs.
Chilly!
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 15:24 — wxray1Wow, those feet were cold!
Welcome back, Erik! I guess I still love ya.
Cole and Returning to Pre-Injury Form
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 15:22 — abramsdougCole's contract sounds very reasonable to me as a compromise by management and by Cole. If he returns to his pre-injury form, he would deserve to be paid more at the next contract discussion. In that regard, it is really surprising to me that Cole doesn't work on being more creative in his moves rather than using his standard move repeatedly.
C'mon web site....
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 15:20 — xpukguy... this should've been updated on the front page already.
maybe I'm just the Dennis to
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 15:56 — hockeyhickyour Mr. Wilson, but you sure are a crotchedy old %^&* aren't you?!? You continue to complain about everything! Seriously?!? Complaining that it took the n and o too long to post this article, or that it wasn't instantaneously the HEADLINE!?! You are sad...
You could have commented on how refreshing it is to have a pofessional athelete value the team, the city, and the organization more than the all-mighty dollar. Or how his agent, yes his AGENT said the same thing! Or how JR has signed a great Hurricane to a very reasonable and fair contract.
Anything would have been better than complaining simply because you have nothing positive or remotely intelligent to say, but at least you are consistent.
Good to get Erik signed to suchreasonable cap number. And don't underestimate the power of aving players that WANT to be here,
i really hope Rosey stays. my gut says he will. hopefully he sees that the canes are fair and, like Cole and Jussi, he will see the importance of being happy and familiar with your team.
Go Canes!
Boo xpukeguy!