Who says you can't go home? Certainly not Carolina GM Jim Rutherford.
The Carolina Hurricanes acquired Erik Cole, who was traded from Carolina this past offseason to Edmonton for Joni Pitkanen, in a three-team deal that saw Justin Williams head to Los Angeles and draft picks moved around.
Williams was initially shipped to Los Angeles for Winston-Salem-born Patrick O'Sullivan and Calgary's second-round pick in the 2009 draft. Rutherford then flipped O'Sullivan and Carolina's second pick in 2009 for Cole and Edmonton's fifth-rounder.
Williams has been injury-riddled the past two seasons, while Cole has struggled to adapt in Edmonton. The move also, presumably, frees up salary for Rutherford to re-sign impending restricted free agent Tuomo Ruutu this offseason. Williams was set to make $3.5 million a year for the next two seasons, while Cole's contract — he's owed the balance of $4 million — will come off the books at the end of the season. The Canes can then, if they choose, attempt to re-sign Cole at a lesser price.
Bubba will have more later.