Canes forward Erik Cole does appear headed to free agency on Friday.
Cole's agent, Steve Bartlett, confirmed today that Cole would like to test his market value at age 32 and explore what teams might be interested in signing him.
"Erik wants to see what the options are on July 1st," Bartlett said via email. "That is in no way a slam on the Hurricanes or his appreciation of the role they have played in his career."
Carolina Hurricanes forward Erik Cole has been nominated for the 2011 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the Carolina chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
It's the second time Cole has been the Hurricanes' nominee for the award, given annually by the PHWA to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
The Carolina Hurricanes' 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday wasn't lacking for stars or headliners from the home team.
Cam Ward, playing his 72nd game, earned his 36th win and had 42 saves in his fourth shutout of the season. Rookie forward Jeff Skinner scored his 30th goal. Veteran forward Erik Cole scored his 25th. Captain Eric Staal had three assists. It was a long list.
General manager Jim Rutherford said today that Ward should be in contention for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie and that Skinner should win the Calder Trophy as the top rookie. He also praised Cole, saying, "This is the best year he's had. The way he has played the game, being a good all-around player and being a threat on the ice all the time, this is his best professional year."
Erik Cole, like a lot of Hurricanes fans, was watching Monday night as the New York Rangers played the Boston Bruins on Versus.
Needless to say, Cole didn't like what he saw. The Rangers fell behind 3-0 in the second period, then rallied for a 5-3 win that pushed New York into seventh place in the East and four points ahead of the Canes.
"You can't control what other teams are doing," Cole said today after practice at the RBC Center. "All the guys were watching the game last night. What can you say? It's out of our control. All the teams that are in our situation are playing that desperate game and it shows.
"You just have concentrate on what we can do. I think we just need to finish the season with three wins and let the chips fall where they may."
RALEIGH — In a game that had a playoff feel and excitement to it, the Carolina Hurricanes topped the Atlanta Thrashers 4-3 on Erik Cole's goal at 2:48 of overtime Saturday at the RBC Center.
Cole took the puck from behind the Carolina net and roared down the right wing. He ripped a shot from the right circle that beat Ondrej Pavelec to the far side — Cole's second OT winner against the Thrashers this season.
"Every time we play them now in here we should go straight to overtime, I guess," Atlanta coach Craig Ramsay said. "Let Cole race down the ice and score."
The Canes (26-21-6), after losses to the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs this week, finally took over eighth place in the East. The Thrashers (24-21-10) also have 58 points, but the Canes have more wins and two games in hand.
"We talked about this being a huge game and we won it, so we should enjoy that part of it," Canes coach Paul Maurice said. "We responded under pressure, in a big game, against the team we're trying to catch."
RALEIGH — Erik Cole took to the ice twice today at the RBC Center -- with and then without skates.
Cole first put in a practice with the Hurricanes. Soon afterward, the forward went back out for a different form of hockey: sled hockey.
As part of a fundraiser for the Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation, Cole joined members of the Triangle Special Hockey Association (TSHA) sled hockey team for some up-and-down action. He even had a goal and assist in the short game.
"It looks like it can be rough at times," Cole said, smiling. "It definitely was a lot of fun. It's much harder than it looks. I thought I had good balance until I got out here."
BOSTON — Canes coach Paul Maurice said it after shootout losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators. He said it after a 3-2 loss Wednesday to the Washington Capitals.
The Canes were getting better, playing better, playing smarter, Maurice said. The record may not bear it out, he said, not against a tough schedule, but the team was getting better.
On Friday, it all came together in a complete 3-0 win over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. The defense was strong, active. Special teams were huge. And, of course, the goaltending was flawless.
"It was important to get a good road win against a good hockey team, to keep the confidence up, keep the faith up, so we don't break apart and start doing things we can't do," Maurice said.
MONTREAL — Brandon Sutter would love to have his father along for the Canes' trip to Montreal.
Dad can't make it. But big brother could.
Sutter's father, Brent, is the coach of the Calgary Flames, so he's got plenty to do. Merrick Sutter, 23, was happy to take his place. Merrick said he's never been to Montreal before.
"It's good," Brandon Sutter said today. "Obviously my dad is busy with what he's doing, so it was a good chance for my brother and he's pretty excited to be here."
MONTREAL -- It's always nice for a lot of the Canes to bring their dads along for a road game. They go out to eat, they share a few laughs, they pose on the ice for a group photo at the morning skate. It's a memory-making moment.
But there appeared to be an underlying tension among the Canes' players today and it's understandable. That ugly 8-1 loss to the Flyers on Thursday still hangs over them like an angry dark cloud. Only playing, and winning, will change that and brighten the mood. Like tonight, against the Canadiens.
"We've been lacking the consistency in terms of committing to how we need to play the game to be successful," forward Erik Cole said after today's morning skate at the Bell Centre. "Especially in the last week it's been very glaring in the games we've played the way we should and in the games we haven't.
"I think our focus will be here tonight. We'll come ready to compete and work hard.
Erik Cole has been one of the take-charge guys the last few days in the Canes' informal workouts at the RecZone. But don't try calling it "Camp Cole," he said today.
"It will always be 'Camp Brind'Amour,'" Cole said, smiling. "It would be a disgrace to Roddy if we took over the title. Let's just call it informal workouts."
For the past few years, Rod Brind'Amour has been the man in charge at the RZ. But with Brind'Amour now retired, and working with the players off the ice, others have had to step forward and run things on the ice, including Chad LaRose.
