*Photo from The Hockey Writers*
It doesn't matter how many people they sign, the Tampa Bay Lightning will shore up their depth on defense. The Lightning and D Ian Cole have agreed to a one year, $3 million deal, according to the team.
The left shot D Cole is coming off a one year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, the 6th team he has played for in his career. He made $2.9 million last season in Raleigh, and the Lightning give him an extra $100,000 bump in his salary to become the 7th team in the NHL that he will suit up for. Cole is a left shot who can also play the right side when needed.
Cole, who was chosen in the first round of the 2007 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues, has played for the Blues, Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and Minnesota Wild in his career, winning back to back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.
Last season, his only in Raleigh, Cole tallied two goals and 17 assists, averaging 17:09 of ice time while posting a +15 plus/minus rating in 75 regular season games. Cole added one goal and one assist in 14 playoff games last season.
Across 12 NHL seasons since debuting in 2010-2011, Cole has 29 goals and 136 assists, with a sterling +131 plus/minus rating while averaging 17:29 of ice time per game in 670 regular season games. Cole has an additional two goals and 24 assists in 110 career playoff games.
The signing of Cole is yet another move on defense by Lightning this offseason. After trading Ryan McDonagh to the Nashville Predators and losing Jan Rutta in free agency, the Lightning have brought in Haydn Fleury, Philippe Myers, and Cole, along with extending Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak.
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