Confirmed with Link: Avs sign Ian Cole (3 years, $4.25M/yr)

[CB Joe]

Avalanche Signs Ian Cole

Referring to him as a strong puck-moving defenseman is funny. Also, the last thing I want to hear about is his Stanley Cup experience and veteran presence.

That quote makes me wish Sakic wasn't the Avs GM.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Joe will never get the whole " properly identify defensemen" thing down it seems.

It's pretty much a given that the final year will be bought out.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Cole is definitely better than Nemeth but having both is overkill. The fear is that those two are going to end up playing way more than they should, and Z and Girard will see a dip in ice time. I have yet to see anything from Bednar and company that indicates Nemeth won’t be playing a lot.

 

[Goulet17]

Cole is definitely better than Nemeth but having both is overkill. The fear is that those two are going to end up playing way more than they should, and Z and Girard will see a dip in ice time. I have yet to see anything from Bednar and company that indicates Nemeth won’t be playing a lot.

I have the same fears regarding Z's and Girard's ice time. I agree that we will not see a reduction of ice time for Nemeth, which will create a redundancy of non-puck moving D in the rotation. I expect Bednar to give loads of ice time to players like Cole, Calvert, Nemeth, and Bourque, because that is what he likes from his players.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I'm hoping that the Avs are going with:

Zadorov-EJ
Cole-Barrie
Nemeth-Girard

 

[McMetal]

That is ugly in both term and dollars. I'm not a fan of his at all, and that's basically middle pair money for a bottom pair stopgap at best.

 

[Foppberg]

That is ugly in both term and dollars. I'm not a fan of his at all, and that's basically middle pair money for a bottom pair stopgap at best.

Bottom pair stop gap at best? Way to be hyperbolic.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I'm hoping that the Avs are going with:

Zadorov-EJ
Cole-Barrie
Nemeth-Girard

That's how I see it. Cole and Barrie played together at the WCH if I recall so they somewhat familiar.

 

[McMetal]

Bottom pair stop gap at best? Way to be hyperbolic.

You think he's a top 4 D? He's pretty mediocre, I don't think he should be any more than a #4 in a pinch.

 

[Goulet17]

I'm hoping that the Avs are going with:

Zadorov-EJ
Cole-Barrie
Nemeth-Girard

I could live with it, although I think Girard is already better than 3rd pairing minutes. It seems like it is either him or Z getting pushed down or out of the lineup in favor of Barberio. I think Bednar really likes Barberio as well.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I could live with it, although I think Girard is already better than 3rd pairing minutes. It seems like it is either him or Z getting pushed down or out of the lineup in favor of Barberio. I think Bednar really likes Barberio as well.

If Z or G get squeezed out the line up for Barberio then Joe needs to find a new coach.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I could live with it, although I think Girard is already better than 3rd pairing minutes. It seems like it is either him or Z getting pushed down or out of the lineup in favor of Barberio. I think Bednar really likes Barberio as well.

I'm hoping that Girard establishes himself a bit more and we end up rolling with:

Zadorov-Barrie
Girard-EJ
Cole-Nemeth

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

If Z or G get squeezed out the line up for Barberio then Joe needs to find a new coach.

Barbie's a nice 7th Dman, I agree if he gets consistent time over Zads/Samwise we need a new coach or our future isn't as bright as we thought.

 

[Foppberg]

You think he's a top 4 D? He's pretty mediocre, I don't think he should be any more than a #4 in a pinch.

I think he's a borderline #4/strong #5.

 

[Iracundia]

I'm hoping that the Avs are going with:

Zadorov-EJ
Cole-Barrie
Nemeth-Girard

I would rather see:

Zadorov-Barrie
Girard-EJ
Cole-Nemeth

Z and EJ are the same player, sold defensively and mediocre offensively. I'd rather see Girard be sheltered with EJ (assuming G is ready for top 4 min). Now each line has a puck mover and defensive D on it.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I think he's a borderline #4/strong #5.

Honestly, I'm fine with that if he can help shelter Girard and let the kid gain some confidence. If he can be a vet presence that can still play that'll help as well.

At least this time when they added a veteran/cup winner it wasn't a 35+ one.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I'm hoping that Girard establishes himself a bit more and we end up rolling with:

Zadorov-Barrie
Girard-EJ
Cole-Nemeth

I would have proposed that top 4 if Barbs was partnering Nemeth, but Cole and Nemeth together seems redundant.

 

[Avs_19]

I'm hoping that the Avs are going with:

Zadorov-EJ
Cole-Barrie
Nemeth-Girard

Man, it's even more depressing when you put it like this. Not only fewer minutes for Girard but possibly playing the right side next to a guy who isn't going to do him any favours when it comes to moving the puck.

 

[S E P H]

I don't mind this by any means. AAV is a tad high, but three years is nothing in the hockey world and he's coming off a fantastic postseason with the Blue Jackets. He's pretty much a consistent #4 version of Duncan Siemens and honestly who would hate that? Character bloke that knows what it takes to win and you can never have too many defenders. Competition elevates everyone elses' game.

 

[AvsGuy]

Why do I feel like this was a signing we only made because we could afford to

 

[OwenNolan]

I don't mind this by any means. AAV is a tad high, but three years is nothing in the hockey world and he's coming off a fantastic postseason with the Blue Jackets. He's pretty much a consistent #4 version of Duncan Siemens and honestly who would hate that? Character bloke that knows what it takes to win and you can never have too many defenders. Competition elevates everyone elses' game.

This times 1000

He is a shut down defender and a class act in the locker room. He will immediately be a team leader on a team full of kids.

Every winning team has guys like him.

I wouldn't be surprised if Barrie is flipped for a forward and Girard takes his minutes.

Zadorov-EJ
Cole-Girard
Nemeth-Barberio

​

 

[arun]

Cole-rado Mehvalanche

 

[Freudian]

On the ice it's not a big deal. If he can help bring Nemeth down from 20 to 18 minutes a game, it would help. And with EJ preliminarily having scheduled a season ending injury for mid February, it's good to have depth.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Gross

 

[lonelybadger]

The more I think about it the less I hate it. Its not an ideal AAV but he can be exposed in the expansion draft and should take some PK time.