The Carolina Hurricanes were finally able to re-sign one of their unrestricted free agents, even if things took longer than originally planned. Erik Cole signed a deal that will pay him $2.8 million in the first year and $3 million in the next. That is a substantial 25% decrease from his previous contract which paid him $4 million per year over three years.
Cole was traded last year at this time to Edmonton for defenseman Joni Pitkanen, but was re-acquired in early March in a complicated deal which sent Justin Williams to Los Angeles. After Cole was inserted into the Carolina lineup, he scored 15 points in 17 games and helped the Hurricanes to a 12-3-2 record in the final 17 games of the season, helping the team make it into the playoffs for the first time in three years.
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