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

[atreyuavenged]

I wouldn't mind Zadorov at 8/40, all the up to 8/46. Don't think he will ever be a huge offensive presence, but he does chip in some points and his physical presence cannot be denied. A guy who frequently gets penalties for being too big.

 

[klozge]

I wouldn't mind Zadorov at 8/40, all the up to 8/46. Don't think he will ever be a huge offensive presence, but he does chip in some points and his physical presence cannot be denied. A guy who frequently gets penalties for being too big.

8/46 would still be a huge steal.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Once Makar arrives our D will be beautiful.

 

[Raucherhusten]

8/46 would still be a huge steal.

Come again.

I love Zad but he is nowhere near of a 6M player. He's a 4M player who might reach 5M if everything goes right for him. Josi/Ellis/Ekholm - these are "Steals".

 

[Ivan13]

Nikita Zadorov has done nothing yet to warrant a contract close to 6mil.

 

[xbestboybandever]

How has Ian Cole earned that spot over them? Because he's been on cup winning teams in a low depth role?

I’m not saying he has, but he has shown more consistentcy then all of the other left handed options that are currently on the team. Ideally Zadarov can continue to build on his strong play and take the top left side, but I’ll say it again, Cole is a good signing and the blue line is better today with him on it.

 

[henchman21]

Also not real thrilled with this deal either. To me Cole is a 4/5 D that can play in a top 4 in long spurts with a good partner, but is really a guy you want on the bottom pairing. To me this is way too much money for a guy you want on your bottom pairing. Yeah this moves Nemeth down the lineup and give some depth to the org on D, but I don't see what the extra 1.75m really brings here over Hickey... or the $2m over Manning. Not the end of the world, but not a fan of this deal.

 

[Piestany88]

Also not real thrilled with this deal either. To me Cole is a 4/5 D that can play in a top 4 in long spurts with a good partner, but is really a guy you want on the bottom pairing. To me this is way too much money for a guy you want on your bottom pairing. Yeah this moves Nemeth down the lineup and give some depth to the org on D, but I don't see what the extra 1.75m really brings here over Hickey... or the $2m over Manning. Not the end of the world, but not a fan of this deal.

He's better than Nemeth though and Nemeth isn't even signed

 

[henchman21]

He's better than Nemeth though and Nemeth isn't even signed

Being better than Nemeth doesn't make it a good deal though... Nemeth isn't signed but is a qualified RFA with arbitration rights... he is as good as signed.

 

[Piestany88]

Being better than Nemeth doesn't make it a good deal though... Nemeth isn't signed but is a qualified RFA with arbitration rights... he is as good as signed.

True , I agree the Cole deal is too much $ but it does give more depth on defense which is always good .

 

[hooverdam]

I feel like you can do worse than Cole for this type of defenseman; he plays really with PMDs and had a huge part in Schultz's reemergence in Pittsburgh. He plays both sides effectively so I could see him paired with either Barrie or Girard and doing well. When Johnson is injured, I'd rather see him see a bump in minutes as opposed to Nemeth or Barberio, whose play significantly degrades as their TOI goes up.

The money sucks, but whatever. If Cole works out well we're not going to be too mad about the money. If he doesn't work out well, that probably means he's in a fight with Bednar, in which case they'll probably dump him somewhere. Pens fans were mad that Cole got traded last deadline simply because it wasn't really a cap or play matter; it was purely a power struggle between him and Sullivan. So if Bednar vs. Soderberg 2.0: Ian Cole Edition starts up, things could get dicey.

 

[Foppberg]

 

[CB Joe]

I don't think anyone is unhappy with Cole. It's the contract that is problematic. At $4.25m a season the contract is at the very least a negative asset but might even be an unmovable contract. Come next off-season or even the following one the Avs might wish they had that money back.

 

[xbestboybandever]

I don't think anyone is unhappy with Cole. It's the contract that is problematic. At $4.25m a season the contract is at the very least a negative asset but might even be an unmovable contract. Come next off-season or even the following one the Avs might wish they had that money back.

It’s a three year deal, not a 7 year. Plus Colorado is no where near the cap this year.

 

[CB Joe]

It’s a three year deal, not a 7 year. Plus Colorado is no where near the cap this year.

3 years is still a long time. Especially when you consider the logjam of depth defenders and upcoming defensive prospects.

It doesn't really matter how far the Avs are from the cap as the Avs aren't a cap team.

 

[Foppberg]

3 years is still a long time. Especially when you consider the logjam of depth defenders and upcoming defensive prospects.

It doesn't really matter how far the Avs are from the cap as the Avs aren't a cap team.

3 years is nothing, it's once you hit 4+ where things start to get long.

 

[xbestboybandever]

3 years is still a long time. Especially when you consider the logjam of depth defenders and upcoming defensive prospects.

It doesn't really matter how far the Avs are from the cap as the Avs aren't a cap team.

The Avs are a cap team. The team has spent to the cap on multiple occasions. Just because they aren't doing it now doesn't mean they are not a cap team. I brought this up before and I will again, who is Cole blocking from moving up on the left side? Timmins, Meloche and Makar are all righties, and are at best 2 years away from needing to crack the line up full time. Cole was more than likely signed to help insulate either Barrie or Girard.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Honestly, if Cole can come in and make Barrie’s or Girard’s life easier than I’m all good with it. It’s a three year contract so I’m starting to come around on it.

 

[Ncit3]

At best he helps our younger defenders, that focus the offensive game first, develop and play better.

At worst we can eat a bit of cap on a marginally overpaid deal and send him off somewhere for an asset.

Not like we'll be cap pressed in the next few seasons.

 

[henchman21]

At best he helps our younger defenders, that focus the offensive game first, develop and play better.

At worst we can eat a bit of cap on a marginally overpaid deal and send him off somewhere for an asset.

Not like we'll be cap pressed in the next few seasons.

The worst case is he inflates the salaries on the team by having a high cap hit for a lesser role. Why would Z accept any less than 4.25m when he will player a bigger role? Or if Nemeth outplays Cole next season, why would he settle for less?

 

[xbestboybandever]

The worst case is he inflates the salaries on the team by having a high cap hit for a lesser role. Why would Z accept any less than 4.25m when he will player a bigger role? Or if Nemeth outplays Cole next season, why would he settle for less?

Please oh please let Z and Nemeth outplay Cole. If that happens, then they deserve the raise.

 

[henchman21]

Please oh please let Z and Nemeth outplay Cole. If that happens, then they deserve the raise.

Do you want to be paying Nemeth 4.5+m per season? Yeesh....

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Do you want to be paying Nemeth 4.5+m per season? Yeesh....

If he makes himself worth it, sure.

 

[CobraAcesS]

The worst case is he inflates the salaries on the team by having a high cap hit for a lesser role. Why would Z accept any less than 4.25m when he will player a bigger role? Or if Nemeth outplays Cole next season, why would he settle for less?

Well his initial role will probably be the #5, maybe #4 (I've got faith Girard can play in the top 4 next year), and players (and teams) absolutely respect Cup rings. I doubt there will be a problem.

I don't think there is a snowball's chance in hell Nemeth surpasses Cole in the next three years either lol.

 

[xbestboybandever]

Do you want to be paying Nemeth 4.5+m per season? Yeesh....

If he proves to be a top-4 defenseman that can stay healthy all year, hell yeah. I'll even fly to Sweden to take him the contract.