Canes trade Cole to Edmonton

Luke- thanks for the updates! appreciate it!!!
It's certainly going to be different going to a game and not seeing #26-- I found Erik one of the most entertaining players to watch-- wonder if anyone else feels this way

I wanted (yes WANTED) Erik Cole to be traded so badly, and it has finally happened. Happy Day in Carolina. Won't get into my personal feelings of the trade (it's GREAT!) but I'll say it like this. I defenseman like Joni Pitkanen is a hot commodity in this league. JR knew that, JR knew he could get him, BUT JR also knew he had to free up the cap space, because of the yanno "self imposed salary cap". He freed up 4 million dollars losing Cole....Pitkanen will probably sign for about that.

It was about team NEEDS. In my opinion, Cole is damaged goods, end of story. The team NEEDED Pitkanen, they didn't NEED Cole anymore. Williams is much more valuable in the long term than Cole was. And for those of you who tell me not to start with the Ruutu comparisons to Cole...I have $100 cash that says he beats Cole's totals from last year, costing the team half as much.

I am going to hate telling my two sons about this one tomorrow morning.

• Bad trade. You can sit back and try and rationalize it all you want, but what is not easily transparent is the chemistry a player brings to a team. Knowledgeable hockey fans know that trades based on numbers and potential should be reserved for fantasy hockey teams. We were lucky enough to have a player actually live here year round. That says a lot.
• Cole offered so many things for this franchise. Lowe is a character guy and a winner. He knows exactly what value Cole brings to his team. He is laughing his head off right now.
• There were other 'Cane forwards, who have not sacrificed anywhere as close to Cole, who could have been excellent trade bait. No one on the team can fulfill the role Cole is vacating. For the Ruutu fans, wait a few years before hinting at comparisons.
• The trade ends the Stanley Cup 2002 and 2006 teams. The East teams, especially Montreal, now will be enjoying themselves with the Hurricanes. It won't be pretty. As soon as Staal is an UFA, he will sign elsewhere. I can see him wearing the Maple Leafs jersey in a few years. Fans, we are in for another 25 years before we can ever sniff a championship run again, at best. This team is openly boring and going nowhere in a hurry.
• Again, you don't win titles or make runs at cups based on numbers, you do it with character guys who will do everything to win. Look at the team now and ask yourself who left is like that? Brind'Amour. That's it. It sure isn't "Boitano" Whitney. Thanks JR.
• Colesy, good luck in the coldest hockey city in the NHL. You will be missed.

I am not happy with Rutherford and the decisions. There are players important to the franchise not signed (Chad). And there are decisions made that are poor (trading Cole). At least Bayda, Brookbank and Conboy were signed-- we would have made the playoffs if they had been included. . . I may not be a season ticket holder if Rutherford continues . . . very upset am I. . .

I definitely will miss Cole. Many memories indeed. This was a trade I figured was coming. Each year at this time, I make a list of players I think we should get. Pitkanen was on my list so I'm pretty happy about it I guess.

I blame brooks orpik, colesy just hasnt been the same since then--i'm planning on booing oprik even louder the next time he's in town

As a fan of the organization for 25 years not many players with skills like his have come along this way. I understand the move, I understand unrealized potential, for reasons out of his control, but from his first game in 2001 flying around defensemen you knew he was a special player that gave his all to the organization. Lets not forget a HUGE goal scored in the miracle at Molson, a game I had the pleasure of attending. Watching him come back in 2006, live at game 7 showed what he is all about. Good luck Eric you are missed already.

Like many, Cole was my favorite player too. The guy played an exciting brand of fast, physical hockey that was fun to watch. But, as some of you have said, you have to give something to get something. If this trade would have happened this time last year, I probably would have been pretty furious. Fortunately, we now have a guy in Tuomo Ruutu who plays a similar style, and is probably even more physical. Regardless, I will never forget watching Erik totally abuse Scott Stevens in the '04 playoffs in route to the cup finals.

As far as Pitkanen goes, I am sure he will develop into a great asset for us. Probably the most unfortunate thing is that he won't have the veteran leadership in Glen Wesley and Bret Hedican to assist in that development. I'm not worried about the return on this trade because I am confident that Pitkanen will develop into a gem. He is a great character guy and is now surrounded by the great character locker room in Carolina.

For those that have expressed concern regarding the RFA status, I am totally with you! Does anyone remember the whole Danny Markov issue a few years back? We trade for the guy as an RFA, he puts up roadblocks, we are forced to go out and sign Tverdovsky and blow the budget, and then Markov signs anyway. In the end it worked out because we got Williams out of the Markov trade, but don't think for a second that we are out of the woods as far as contract negotiations are concerned. Pitkanen is probably going to want in the neighborhood of $3.5 to $4 million a year. Hopefully JR learned his lesson and is prepared to get this deal done. I predict 3 years, $11.5 million.

Stillman just signed with Florida! 3 years, $10.6 million.

Hope this works - we surely need help on D and have a lot of skilled forwards. However, I was really hoping we could get a better defenseman than Pitkanen. I'll keep an open mine and wish him the best, but somehow I suspect he's more of an Ozolinsh/ Teverdovsky type than a Corvo type. They also may need to swap forwards with someone - don't really see much in the way of a power forward on the top 3 lines now.

Last year we could of have Pitaken for Wallin . But Mr. -18 said no he wanted to stay in Raleigh. Good decision Nikki - you would have been run out of Philly. I hope we see something better this year . Number 26 had alot of heart . That was pathetic last year !

I have Erik's name on my sweater, so I'll miss him here in Carolina - but I understand the need for this trade. I just hope Pitkanen will measure up favorably.

As much as Canes fans, myself included, will miss Cole, this is a good mover for the team. Our D is terrible and is the primary reason we missed the playoffs two years running. Pitkanen has the potential, potential being the key word here, to be a huge addition.

Cole is a UFA after this year. It is unlikely he will resign in Edmonton. Depending on the kind of year he, and the Canes have, maybe a return is not inconceivable.

Regardless, I for one will always remember his early comeback from the neck injury in Game 6. And although that game didn’t go as planned, it was something to see him come out and play so soon after his injury and the subsequent surgery.

Who will ever forget Erik's return to the ice in that blue jersey after months of rehabbing after Orpik broke his neck? Or the times they showed him on the Jumbotron in full neckbrace and the place went nuts? or his ultimate triumph returning for Game 6 in EDM and drawing both penalties that lead to goals in game 7???

God Bless you Erik. Best of Luck in EDM. They are lucky to have you.

You will definitely be missed in Carolina. I wish you all the best in "Oiler Country."

Aside from Cole's inspirational return during the run for the cup, he has been the epitome of a slacker. If you watch the game, and I mean really watch the game, he cuts every corner possible. He drifts in the zone, doesn't rush the net for rebounds, and gives up whenever he's faced with a tough situation. Unless Cole saw an opportunity to capitalize on a play, he'd shift into neutral and save his energy. His opportunistic style of play may translate into decent G/A/P, but it doesn't inspire the team, or the crowd. I think over the past couple yrs (06-07 and first half of 07-08), Stall had begun to adopt Cole's same approach. When Brindi got hurt, this snapped Stall back to life. I wish Cole the best of luck, but the Canes will be better off without him. Aggressive leadership is a must!