FanPost

One More Time, For More Than Just Old Times' Sake


Though we are all encouraged when Ron Francis handles business differently from his predecessor, I think it might make sense to utilize a Rutherfordian tactic just once on one particular player. I would love to see Erik Cole be the next (and hopefully last) Hurricanes re-re-tread. The more I think about what this group of forwards is going to need next year as the rebuild continues, the more I think Cole to be a good fit for both sides. The Canes need size (last time I checked he's still 6'2), secondary scoring (we don't get any primary scoring, you see), and another veteran presence familiar with the program who could possibly help some of our young guys elevate their game. Cole has six points (three goals and three assists) in ten games since the Red Wings acquired him, but left in the first period tonight with one of those mysterious "upper body" injuries.

Obviously the man has had injury issues since leaving, and a team looking to rebuild by getting younger and focusing on the draft doesn't seem to be the right place for a player that has been slowed by a body that turns 37 in November of next year. Cole makes $4M this year, the last of his big contract signed with Montreal in 2011. I don't know enough about NHL contract negotiations or market prices to accurately estimate what kind of money he will command this summer (or write a fanpost about potentially signing him) but I have to imagine we can get him for a relatively reasonable amount. He was mentioned as a compliance buyout candidate for Dallas last offseason, and his career is firmly in it's winter. The team is still going to be in a bad cap situation next season, but the load lessens some a little over a year from now with Eric Staal, Cam Ward, and John-Michael Liles all being pending UFAs.

There are two roadblocks I imagine being arguments against a move to bring Cole back. The first is that if the Canes can sign a more useful player for the same amount -or use that money on a bigger contract for someone that's more of a long term solution- then the nostalgia shouldn't be enough. The second would be the potential of a veteran enjoying a swan song in the town he lives in offseason blocking the path of players that should be at least getting looks on the NHL roster. It's hard to imagine Francis being an active player in free agency at any position, and in most cases it seems like spending on established players is not the right way to go this offseason. There are plenty of good players that will be available once free agency begins, but this team is not in a position to invest in next season without thinking long term. As far as the second issue goes, there are enough questionable NHL players on the roster that I don't believe Cole would cause a set back in any particular player's development.

Personally, I am hoping for the entire culture around this organization to change. Successful professional sports franchises do not allow good feelings to get in the way of business, and they do not overpay aging players for "intangibles" no matter how much fans like seeing them in the uniform (it used to drive me crazy when Rutherford would talk about players being good people, that's nice, and we don't want another Sean Burke situation, but who cares how nice you think they are?). That said, the culture on the ice needs to change for the front office's decision making to take hold. This team has an air of nonchalance under the captaincy of Eric Staal, and watching the team this season hasn't provided many glimpses of cohesiveness, desire to compete, or a willingness to stick up for itself. This team needs to focus on developing good players consistently before it weighs itself down with more expensive contracts. The moves at the trade deadline have shown that Francis is indeed committed to the long term over the short, and I could not be happier with the changes Bill Peters has already made. I believe that those two are doing the right things to create a winning culture that can make a team a Stanley Cup contender every year. That's why I wouldn't mind if Ron reached into the past just this once to bring back his old team mate.