Canes Country Exit Analysis: Erik Cole
by Scott Cason on Jun 29, 2009 11:47 PM EDT
18 comments
Within minutes of learning of the trade that would send him back to Raleigh, Erik Cole was on the line with his homeys. Things just weren’t working out in Edmonton, and it looked like a change was something both Cole and the Canes needed in March. So the Cole family packed up and moved back to Beverly. And a rejuvenated Colesy generated nearly a point per game over the last 17 games of the regular season.
Then came the playoffs…Cole didn’t score a goal in 18 playoff games. He did create opportunities, and the Smurf-Canes desperately needed his physical presence to create a little chaos and opportunity for the finishers. Cole finished the 2009 playoffs with five assists. He logged three of those five while Canes were being steamrolled by the Pens.
The Good:
Erik Cole is a great guy to have in your clubhouse. He respects the game. He embodies the hockey ethos we all love and the younger guys look up to him. Even in Edmonton where his shaky play led to snipes in the press and from the Oil faithful, he remained the consummate pro.
Despite a history of shattered bones and ruptured tissues, Erik Cole still shows no hesitation in driving the net. Playing on a line with Erik looks like it would be a blast. You can bet he will work his tail off to create opportunities, and all you have to do is swoop in on a rebound...if he gets a shot off...and it's on goal.
The Bad:
The Erik Cole of 2005-2006 was the embodiment of the modern power forward. Then he got Orpik’d. Erik rehabbed the rest of that spring and made a dramatic return to the ice for Game 6 of the ’06 Cup playoffs. Canes win! BuffaSlug fan whines! All is right in the world in the summer of 2006.
Flash forward to the summer of 2009 –BuffaSlug fan is still bitter and Erik Cole has scar tissue from head-to-foot and a Gerald Ford quality wrist shot. Mileage and the youth and athleticism of the competition have conspired to diminish the impact of Erik Cole. The one big thing that used to separate Cole from the pursuit, breakaway speed and a powerful stride…TWO BIG THINGS that used to separate Cole from the pursuit - no longer seem to be there. (a Ginsu Knife set to Hockeymomof2 if she can id. that reference). Defensemen are now wise to the signature duck-n-drive power move, and they know that if they draw him into the corner, chances are he'll crash into somebody or something and take himself out of the rush back up ice.
Wily veterans find a way extend their careers by contributing in new ways. The old rough-and-tumble Erik Cole needs to evolve into a headier, playmaking Erik Cole if he wants to extend his career beyond the next season or two. I love Erik Cole. I think he's great for the game and great for the Canes franchise. I still hold my breath when he corrals the puck and heads up ice with only six men to beat. Truth is, he needs to become more than an aging Kamikaze with hands of feet.
The Money:
Right before last weekend’s NHL entry draft, JR offered Cole a two-year deal. No bite. Cole’s agent, Steve Bartlett, told the Observer’s Chip Alexander that negotiations would probably extend into July. Last season, Erik made $4 Mil. He won’t get near that amount on the open market, and he probably knows and accepts his new reality. I’ve said before, I think Chad LaRose will explore the open market, but I think Cole will return to the sightless eye for two years at $2.5 Mil per. Momma likes being back in Raleigh, and if momma’s not happy, nobody’s happy.
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C
A- regular season
D- playoffs
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 30, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions
I gave him a C…
I give his Agent and his ability to try to be Koy (on 850am) an F…
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Jun 30, 2009 7:34 AM EDT reply actions
C
B for the regular season (given his $4mil salary, he was expected to produce under pressure)
D post season. – again, I expect Cole to produce way more than Bayda.
I agree with Mateo that the agent is the problem. (him and Cole’s “hands of feet” – nice one)
Mrs E Cole vs Mr $ Agent – time for poor beleaguered Erik to step up and figure out which side his bread is buttered on. Like in the next 8 hours.
And once again, regretfully, I have no idea what reference that is, Mr Cason. To demonstrate that we seem to frequent different cultural circles, my 2 movie rentals this weekend were “Mamma Mia” (I’ll give it a C) and “Mr Beans Vacation” – with four 9 year olds who had a sleepover here Sat night. (B+).
Might I at least please have a tomato knife for effort? (=^~
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
LMAO @ Smurf-Canes
Great article, good points
I gave him a B, just b/c it’s Colesy – possibly one of the coolest cats I have ever met.
Everone is giving him hack for a bad playoff performance, but look at his career playoff stats… his best PO year was in Berlin. He’s never scored that much in the playoffs. I’m not sure what ya’ll were expecting.
I dunno...
A point every other game? A goal or two?
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 30, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions
LoL
I don’t blame you there. Not sure why he doesn’t produce much in the playoffs but I took that into consideration when grading. He actually had a higher point-per-game average this postseason than other nhl po’s prior. He did kind of tare it up at the end of the reg season, so I can understand why people would be disappointed. But we say it all the time : the PO’s are a different animal.
Put her in the comfy chair!
That’s the one.
by Scott Cason on Jun 30, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Here’s the link to the comfy chair – the other link was “the rack”. Great stuff. My 9-yr old was giggling pretty good, too.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jun 30, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Here I’m thinkin’ vintage Clint Eastwood or even David Carradine (overlooking the tragedy in Bangkok), and you go the opposite direction with Monty Python.
Patience, Scotty my boy, I’m still trying to figure you out.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jun 30, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Out-Of-Control Cole
He was an average player in Edmonton, but should have produced more for his abilities and pay. When traded to Carolina, he came alive. He was a very good player that produced what is generally expected of him. During the playoffs, he was horrible. He could not get in rhythm with anybody on the team; he did deliver a few good checks. He is a skater that has a nice size and very good speed, he just seems out on control a lot of times when he has the puck. I gave him an overall C. C – early season in Edmonton, A – after trade deadline in Carolina, F – playoffs.
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/rutherford-cole-to-test-fa-market
Cole to test the market
Chad looking better, but no word for sure yet.
by packpigskinfan25 on Jun 30, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions
Thanks
Hopefully Rosey and JR will find the love – before 5pm.
Here’s a little more on RFA’s Ruutu, Babchuk:
"I had a good meeting with Ruutu’s agent at the draft," said Carolina General Manager Jim Rutherford. "That process has started and we’ll see where that goes."
With Babchuk, the process has actually been made a little bit easier by the player’s decision to play a season in Russia while still under contract with the Hurricanes in 2007-08.
"When he went back to Russia for the one year it really affected his status because now he doesn’t have any arbitration rights," said Rutherford. "We want him back, we want him to continue to grow into a real solid, consistent performer and we expect him to take his qualifier."
From the Canes Tracking the Storm around 11am today.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jun 30, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
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