Just to cite.
" Incidentally, the Penguins didn't have any particular designs on trading Cole. He was included in the package for Brassard because the Senators requested him.
Jim Rutherford had other avenues to make Brassard fit under the salary cap. Trading Cole wasn't paramount to the plan. In fact, he'd have preferred keeping him.
However, the Senators intend on flipping Cole for what they hope will be a second-round draft pick between now and Monday's trade deadline."
-The Athletic
Despite issues with Mike Sullivan, Ian Cole never wanted to...
Theres a good bit more there but that's the short version. Either Ottawa thought peace sells and couldn't find a buyer or Pitts was trying to move Cole and was being polite about it.