Canes Re-Acquire Cole For Williams In A Three-Team Deal
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 4, 2009 5:49 PM EST
43 comments
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.
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I don't know...
Could be a good trade. If it means we keep Ruutu and give up Williams I think I like that trade. We also essentially swapped 2nd round picks and picked up a 5th round pick.
Essentially, the broad view of the trades work out like this (I think):
We get:
Cole (for the rest of the season)
Pitkanen
5th Round pick
Salary Space for Ruutu next year
We give up:
Justin Williams (1 more year on contract)
good trade
this kind of trade is just what we need for a run to the playoffs right now.
it even leaves us with multiple options at the end of the season.
i like this trade
more from puck daddy:
Erik Cole going back to the Hurricanes isn’t a stunner, because it’s almost like an Avery-lite move, minus the sex jokes — an energy guy that instantly transforms this team into something that it hasn’t been since he left. As Peter Laviolette said on TSN: “Eric Staal’s numbers have dipped quite a bit without Erik Cole there.” Cole’s return could energize the team’s best player. That’s important with a playoff spot on the line, despite the fact that the Canes just traded a contract for a UFA.
OHHHHH SNAP!!!!!!! Not only do I agree, but extra points on responding in 3 minutes!!!!!!
Satan is just a coping mechanism for monotheists.
by wilmnoca on Mar 4, 2009 6:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
That was to Chris by the way.
Satan is just a coping mechanism for monotheists.
by wilmnoca on Mar 4, 2009 6:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
A missing piece...
A strong power skater has been a missing ingredient for our offense, period. I do agree with you Paladin it can be seen as a lollipop for Staal to get off his ass. But long story short you can’t keep throwing high skill offensive players and expect success on the ice without something to match it with…that being physical play or strong skating to create space at the offensive end. Good example is Cullen last night in DC, he had the Craps hemmed back all night and the Canes tore them up.
So what did we loose-Justin Williams at 3.5 million a year… over the past 3 seasons has played 151 games (-11, +2, -9). A second rounder (which we get back).
We gained Cole at 4 million a year (rest of this year…don’t think he’ll rate that $$ on his next contract). Over the past 3 seasons Cole’s played 207 games ( +2, +5, -3).
We now have a 5th round and 2nd round pick in future drafts.
While I too was excited about O’Sullivan coming home…on the other hand, this deal provides more ability to build on and the team has shown some commitment to the future by not selling off the youth.
I like the deal. I’ll miss Williams for sure but this deal works for the now….Willy has been unhealthy…Cole didn’t adjust to the Oilers very well and we get 2 picks out of this. Lace em’ up folks! Calgary is next! They bring many new parts to the table Friday. Here’s to hoping the Flames will be a little sloppy with the new meat.
Cole
Can’t help but like this move. If Cole plays well, so does Stall and we make the big dance.
If things go really well, we go deep into the playoffs and Cole re signs with cap space
cleared by Williams. If this doesn’t pan out, we can resign Cole (at a lesser amount) or
go after another player. There is no one that can argue this does not improve the teams
chances of making the playoffs.
I hate to see Williams go, a great guy with touch around the net . I hope this works
out for him.
We should have kept O’Sullivan. I love Justin, so I’ll be sad to see him go and I’ve always been a big Cole guy, so it’s great to welcome him back, but this was the wrong move. They had it right the first time. O’Sullivan is seven years younger, not potentially damaged goods like Cole, more of an offensive force, and best of all, a North Carolina native. Also, I would have rather had that second round pick than the one for the fifth round.
friday’s lines?
Cole – Staal – Ruutu
Whitney – Cullen – LaRose
Samsonov – Brindamour – Eaves
Walker – Helminen – Conboy (ryan)
DO ANY OF YOU PEOPLE WORK????
It took a little while to catch up, here are my two cents…
Mo better not screw with Whitney, Cullen, LaRose line..that is the only line performing and doing so consistently.
Hopefully bringing Cole back will light some fire under Staal’s ass, although with the salary he’s getting, he shouldn’t need any extra incentive.
Hate to see Williams go, the injuries will only last so long and I hope this trade wont come back and bite us in the ass. The way JR runs things he’ll be back next season anyways….
Ha…. Jen… My boss was all over me all day because I practically lived on CanesCountry (and had TSN going at the same time)
I’m sure I should probably take some biscuits or some form of treats to work with me tomorrow to make up for my slack @$$ today…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 4, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions
Jenniwa30
I agree with you entirely. saves me from having to post what you said. I can now uses this post to talk about how much i agree with what you just said…………..jk
but i do agree If he would have stopped with the O’Sullivan deal i would have been ok with it (not great, but ok with it) I can see this deal from a few different angles and will hold joff udgment until farther notice. Im still kinda stunned to be honest.
It could be a matt cullen situation. his two best years he has had have been in carolina. He didnt play well in NY (they probably felt the same way the Oilers felt) So it might be good for Cole. We all know it will help Staal. But worst come to worst it works out money wise. More gate and money comming off the books. so we will see.
and remember that it not just us that understand cole is about to be an UFA. Cole knows it too. He should have all the motivation in the world to play well the remainder if this season, knowing that his next contract very well might be the last “big” one he gets. He should be poised to play well, returning to a team, and probably a line, which put him on the map to begin with.
This was a 3-way trade
I don’t think the O’Sullivan deal was doable as a standalone trade. Its not like JR could have said “ok…lets stand here and not complete the 2nd part”. It was all or nothing.
by jwalther420 on Mar 4, 2009 8:42 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
They could’ve acquired O’Sullivan and a 2nd for Williams … in fact, they did. It’s not like by shipping O’S to Edmonton, L.A. received more in the deal. Plain and simple, this was a matter of two things:
1) clearing a long-term salary commitment to free up money to re-sign Ruutu
2) getting someone who could help the team now for a playoff push, which Williams couldn’t
CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 4, 2009 10:15 PM EST up reply actions
You are correct that the deal to get O’Sullivan was doable. But, the Hurricanes needed to get confirmation that the Oilers would take O’Sullivan ahead of time, otherwise the deal made no sense. (no salary dump). Without the guarantee that the Oilers would take O’Sullivan, the deal would never have been made. (which is what I think JWalther’s point was, “all or nothing”) Perhaps the Oilers were even the ones who chose O’Sullivan, not the Canes.
GM of CanesCountry.com
agree totally … he wasn’t acquired for us. But that being said, L.A. didn’t care where O’S wound up … they just wanted Williams.
CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 5, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
I have several problems with this deal. Not the least of which being the loss of J. Will. While its true his contributions over the last 15 months or so have been limited due to injury, when healthy with his legs back under him, he’s a major talent, works hard consistently (something this team is not know for), is willing to play a chippy game and will get out in front of the net (again, those last 2 traits, not traits our team is known for). This amounted to getting rid of a skilled and valuable player for a salary dump. A dump which in no way guarantees that Rosie or Ruu will be brought back. The team was over budget this year and JR has been trying to dump salary the whole while (Kaberle, anyone). Next year they are already committed to about the same amount that they are spending this year and that isn’t including Rosie, Ruu, Seidenberg etc. With all things considered I can’t imagine PK wanting to open the purse strings a whole lot wider next year than he did this year. I don’t like what it says about the organization…it says bargain basement. As a friend of mine said to me yesterday, if something doesn’t change, we’re one or two seasons away from being the Atlanta Thrashers.
Another problem I have, is Cole’s unreliability. He can be a really good guy to have out there on the ice, if he is feeling it and if he is healthy. However, if he just isn’t hot right then or is feeling under appreciated, well…he skates really fast. As another friend pointed out, he’s our very own Max Afinogenov lite.
Finally, the fact that the reason to bring Cole back was to restart Staal is a little disturbing. As a ‘superstar’ of the league he shouldn’t NEED to have just 1 specific winger in order to score. He should be able to find a way to make that happen regardless of who is to his right or his left. Crosby (and lord knows, I can’t stand him) has done nothing but complain all season long because he needs wingers that he can work with, yet he remains toward the top of the goal, assist and points charts. Making the money he is making, he should be finding ways to get that puck in the net. While he is our current goal score leader, if you take away the empty netters, does he really have that many more than the next couple guys. As for being near the top of the shots stat, who cares if none of them are making them in? Oh, and if we don’t manage to resign Cole for next season, then what?
Finally, sort of back to the money issue….say they resign Ruutu and LaRose and maybe Seidenberg, how do we go out and get a bigger more physical player? Ruutu and LaRose, not the two biggest guys in the NHL….not even the biggest guys on our team, should not have to be the go to guys for a chippy, physical game. The team needs a more physical presence. They, as a whole, there are a few individual exceptions, are softer than a bunch of girls (and I can say that because I am one), they don’t like to hit, they certainly don’t like to get hit and they get pushed around. There needs to be a player that can play that game without getting knocked around, can put it back on them and can win more battles along the boards.
Anyway, there is my two cents.
Nik11,
Nice post, you make several good points. People who do not agree with keeping a “thrifty” budget will not like this deal. But others might argue that a small market team can not feasibly spend to the cap. The gate and television revenue is just not the same as in bigger cities. Certainly Justin Williams suffered the consequences for the inability to trade Frank Kaberle and/or other less desirable players who have inflated contracts compared to recent performance.
Concerning your comments about Staal, they certainly had some success together. But I don’t think management is saying that Cole is the only player that will benefit Staal. Staal might be missing Cory Stillman, more so than Cole, but Cole was the person available. Stillman was a good assist man and right now I believe that is what Staal is lacking, someone to set him up. There are other good set up players in the league and perhaps they can focus on bringing one in here next season. Cole might actually benefit more from playing with Staal, then vice-versa. But then Staal’s assist numbers should go up.
I agree that the team is small. But it will probably require a long term fix, not short term. The team needs to start drafting and developing bigger players, and that takes time. (like Washington)
GM of CanesCountry.com
Thanks Bubba.
You’re right, of course, about being a small market team. I intellectually get that they can’t spend up to the cap, but sometime how it plays out just leaves me wanting to pull my hair out. Its frustrating when the fact, or the consequences of it, smack you in the head. In some ways though, it can become a vicious circle. Revenue goes down, budget is cut, team suffers, attendance suffers, revenue goes down, etc. Hopefully, what they have in place right now can prevent to great a slide. In conjunction with that, hopefully the core fan base is strong enough to weather any potential storm. (No pun intended…or maybe there was.) Just please, don’t let it get as bad as it is on the Island.
Good call on the Stillman perspective. He may not have been the fastest or showiest guy on the ice, but he was smart. He could see the game really well. He’s definitely missed!
Can’t argue your final point for sure. I’d like to see some smart, shrewd drafting take place. While that is being done though, I’d still like to see them bring someone in to fill the immediate need.
Since you broke the ice so to speak I thought Stillman would of been a good retrieval on a one year. While Cole has some size he does not play, like a Ruutu, he is not a killer forechecker, never was. As for Staal, while assists are nice, i think he gets paid for goals. So I agree with the idea this help Cole more, another in the miriad of reasons this deal sucks. I see alot of people saying that this will allow us to sign Ruutu and Rosie. I do not see that as anything more than wishful thinking. JR is obviously dumping salary. While some of the guys are making more Ruutu is the gem of this team penny for play. If we can’t sign him and I think his agent has a crook in his neck from living on the phone, he walks, no harm no foul on money, we got at least what we paid for if not more. the loss, is in the player, he’s probably going to be a 2nd line starter in the league for along while if not 1st line duty. Rosie is another guy that has shown awsome potential and effort, yet I don’t think the front office has treated him wioth a whole lot of respect in the past. Cullen when he is on, is one of the best in the league. He was starting this same kind of tear when he got his mellon crushed. Now he’s back, if healthy he hits 50 points consistantly. Then look at the new D we have assembled, with time they should be a good crew. I cannot see ANY positive from a team winning points aspect in bringing Cole back. He’s a nice guy, BFD. His numbers have sucked since the neck. A reuniting with Staal will do nothing but put another butt on the healthy scratc h list. My personal thoughts are to bump Cullens line up to one, drop Staal Ruutu, Cole to second and then it get’s messy. That mess is a direct result of bringing in Cole, who everybody pretty much agrees is not gonna put up 20 goals or even points between now and the PO’s. staal and Cullen are the only two who can probably hit that and Staal being the one my money would be on. So why, why bring him in? Think Mo was asking for it? I read all these posts and articles all over and ALL the positive vibe is only emotional. When you look at numbers, effort, age, money, everything that actually means something, this doesn’t appear to have been a good deal, in fact it probably hurt. It looked like they were just getting into a rythem and the issues with Staal’s production, or lack there of, rod’s inability and the lack of an effective forecheck and PP, were just issues that needed to be dealt with. Cole addresses none of them and like Rod is just taking up another roster spot. Stillman would of offered amost everything Cole does, plus he’s a net vulture. I’m beside myself. Sutter would be a better call up and he’s playing with alot more size than he has, where Cole plays with less
Crap I’m off the soap box, this ruined my week….
On the other hand, maybe Cole sees a glimmer of hope of getting his carrer back on track and will go apezi
I guess I’ll hope..
A
Erik the Great
As I have watched this team, I have repeatedly thought "we need another guy like Ruutu." There have been several games when the guys just don’t show heart. Specifically, there are guys on our team that are on the wrong end of cheap shots and no one moves an inch to defend that guy. Scott Walker will do it but he has not been on the ice much. Erik Cole will never let that crap go by without an answer. This is going to be great. No more feminine games. Can you imagine playing the Canes now…..Staal(with more room to skate because of Erik’s speed), Cole, Samsanov, Whitney, LaRose(psychotic),Cullen, Walker,RUUUUUTTTTUUUU. This is a team that can now compete in the playoffs. I will be shocked if they do not get in now.
It all comes down to the defense and special teams. Erik will help the power play. The defense will not have to leave their post as much because of the respect for EC’s speed and they will get better. My concern is the penalty kill. They play this collapsing penalty kill. I hate it. Under Lavi, the play there was terrible. Since Mo, they are challanging the puck movers and it has resulted in a lot of shorties. I hope they continue to play that quick strike, style and add "in you face" to it.
Guys, this is a good trade. We just got tougher, faster, nastier, more intimidating, tighter in the dressing room and above all smarter.
One last comment. Last year Erik Cole was clearly not healthy. He was still experiencing pain. That was the reason for his inconsistent play. Some games he was feeling well, some games he was not able to do what he wanted. He is around year further along with that terrible injury. He got healthy in Edmonton. Thank you for the long rehab stint. Remember how long it took Gary Roberts to get over that injury….
I have been smiling for two days. Go Canes…..
not so crazy bout the sutter reassignment but..
…i LOVE that cole is BACK… he did awesome his first game back
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