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Canucks agree to contract with defenseman Cole

*Photo from the Tampa Bay Times*
   The retool continues in Northwest Canada. Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff reports that the Vancouver Canucks and D Ian Cole have agreed to a one year, $3 million contract. The Canucks have confirmed the move.

   Half of the $3 million due to Cole will be a signing bonus of $1.5 million, with the other $1.5 million being standard salary. Cole has played for 7 NHL teams in his career, with the Canucks now set to become the 8th.

   Last season was spent with the Lightning for Cole, his 7th NHL team. He tallied 3 goals with 14 assists for 17 total points, posting a +13 rating in 78 games, averaging 19:23 of ice time. In the playoffs, Cole added one goal and two assists in 6 games, with the Lightning losing in the first round.

   Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said of Cole that "Ian brings a lot of experience to our hockey team and will definitely bolster our blueline. He knows what it takes to be successful in the NHL, knows how to compete, and he knows how to be a leader both on and off the ice. Bringing in someone with a Stanley Cup experience and pedigree is an important addition to our core group."

   A former first round pick, Cole brings Stanley Cup experience to the Canucks, having won back to back titles with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. He was in Pittsburgh for those two seasons and parts of two more before going around the league again.

   Cole has played for the Penguins, Lightning, and St. Louis Blues among the 7 teams he's played for in 13 seasons. He has 32 goals and 150 assists to his name, averaging 17:41 of ice time with a sterling +144 rating in 748 regular season games. Cole has an additional 3 goals and 26 assists over 126 career playoff games.

   So far this offseason, the Canucks have brought aboard Carson Soucy, Teddy Blueger, and Tristen Nielsen alongside Cole as they try to shake things up on the fly following two disappointing seasons in a row.

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