Value of: Ian Cole with/without retention

[Richard88]

What would Ian Cole fetch on the trade market, either with or without retention? And what teams may be interested? He has 1 year remaining with a $4.25m caphit, though his real salary this season is only $3m.

The reason I ask is because Byram's performance at the WJC suggests that he's NHL ready, and his emergence could cause Cole to be the odd man out. Cole is in a contract year so may want to go somewhere he can get guaranteed icetime.

For reference Coach Bednar's inteded D pairs to start camp (sans Byram until WJC is over) are:

Toews --- Makar
Girard --- Johnson
Graves --- Cole
Gilbert --- Timmins​

Click to read more...

 

[Unbiased Fan]

Nothing. Still a good 3rd pairing guy but because of flat cap he’s staying a Ave

 

[Flyer lurker]

I don't see Cole moving until injuries hit a team's defensive core and need to add bad. Revisit come Feb 15.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

The flat cap really does suffocate the trade value of guys like Cole.

 

[TheNewEra]

on paper i would do a move of coburn and reilly for cole. Ottawa gains skill for the 3rd pairing since from my understanding we are planning on playing coburn. Colorado saves cap space which should compound for the trade deadline and get 2 options for their 7/8 dman role while giving a spot to Byram

granted this isnt going to happen for many reasons but that is something i would offer up and if colorado is looking for some cap flexibility then it works. I wouldnt add too much more to the offer per say

 

[Khelandros]

Byrams performance against 16-19 year olds that play in second tier leagues around the world does not prove he is "NHL ready." It just proves that he is better than those players. He also only has 1 goal and 3 assists in 6 games, so not exactly killing it.

 

[JackFr]

Cole was superb last season, he's easily worth the money at 4.25. If no one will take him keep him until Byram forces your hand.

 

[Muffin]

Byrams performance against 16-19 year olds that play in second tier leagues around the world does not prove he is "NHL ready." It just proves that he is better than those players. He also only has 1 goal and 3 assists in 6 games, so not exactly killing it.

You realize the first job of a defenseman is to defend right? It's irrelevant how many points he put up. Colorado already has Makar and Byram at best will only be getting PP2 time if that when he's behind Girard and Toews.

 

[Gurglesons]

I highly doubt Colorado moves a player like Cole on their quest for a cup to put in a green rookie.

 

[dahrougem2]

Cole was superb last season, he's easily worth the money at 4.25. If no one will take him keep him until Byram forces your hand.

He was not. He was great for the Avs in his first season but he was not good last season.

 

[Djp]

He is not worth what he is paid. No team has the space for him.

 

[Richard88]

Cole was superb last season, he's easily worth the money at 4.25. If no one will take him keep him until Byram forces your hand.

I highly doubt Colorado moves a player like Cole on their quest for a cup to put in a green rookie.

It's not just a question of replacing Cole with a rookie 1-for-1. By moving Cole you also open up capspace that can be allocated towards adding a good 3C for example. So instead of having Cole as a 6/7D earning $4.25m against the cap, you use Byram/Timmins/Gilbert in that role and get yourself $3m+ to go fishing for a legit 3C upgrade to put the team over the top.

• Cole at $4.25m

VS​

• Byram at $900k + $3.35m to upgrade another part of the roster.

 

[Gurglesons]

It's not just a question of replacing Cole with a rookie 1-for-1. By moving Cole you also open up capspace that can be allocated towards adding a good 3C for example. So instead of having Cole as a 6/7D earning $4.25m against the cap, you use Byram/Timmins/Gilbert in that role and get yourself $3m+ to go fishing for a legit 3C upgrade to put the team over the top.

• Cole at $4.25m

VS​

• Byram at $900k + $3.35m to upgrade another part of the roster.

I imagine COL banks their cap space and makes a move in season for a Bonino type.

Contenders don't drop out proven vets like Cole.

 

[Richard88]

Byrams performance against 16-19 year olds that play in second tier leagues around the world does not prove he is "NHL ready." It just proves that he is better than those players. He also only has 1 goal and 3 assists in 6 games, so not exactly killing it.

Byram actually has 1 goal and 4 assists, for 5 points in 6 games. Sure, he could nonetheless do better in that department, but anyone who's watched the games would agree that he easily could have had twice as many points if teammates had converted on his passes.

Meanwhile, in the defensive department he's now played 1 game shy of two full WJC's, and is yet to be on the ice for a 5-v-5 goal against. In 6 games he has a +14 rating, and has been Canada's go-to guy with around 25mins of TOI in the last two elimination games.

He admittedly still needs to actually show that he can play in the NHL, but he's clearly one of the most (if not the most) NHL ready prospects in the WJC.

 

[Gurglesons]

Byram actually has 1 goal and 4 assists, for 5 points in 6 games. Sure, he could nonetheless do better in that department, but anyone who's watched the games would agree that he easily could have had twice as many points if teammates had converted on his passes.

Meanwhile, in the defensive department he's now played 1 game shy of two full WJC's, and is yet to be on the ice for a 5-v-5 goal against. In 6 games he has a +14 rating, and has been Canada's go-to guy with around 25mins of TOI in the last two elimination games.

He admittedly still needs to actually show that he can play in the NHL, but he's clearly one of the most (if not the most) NHL ready prospects in the WJC.

So you hold him and gradually dip in him into the roster. No harm, no foul. It's not like Colorado has been the sparkling example of health the last two seasons.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Flat cap he’s worth another contract of similar size. Avs should keep him either on third pair or in the press box every other night. Can never have enough d-men especially for a team that has designs on a deep run into the playoffs.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

I imagine COL banks their cap space and makes a move in season for a Bonino type.

Contenders don't drop out proven vets like Cole.

Also true. A team trying to win is rarely going to trade a veteran defenseman with a couple rings to his credit. That experience may not provide value in February, but it absolutely can come crunch time...especially for a roster whose 3rd most veteran defenseman by NHL games played is 22 years old.

Teams should be expecting to use their depth players far more this season than usual, too, so even if Cole dips down the depth chart...I'd see more value in having Ian Cole as the next man up than I would whatever nominal asset he'd fetch right now.

 

[Khelandros]

Byram actually has 1 goal and 4 assists, for 5 points in 6 games. Sure, he could nonetheless do better in that department, but anyone who's watched the games would agree that he easily could have had twice as many points if teammates had converted on his passes.

Meanwhile, in the defensive department he's now played 1 game shy of two full WJC's, and is yet to be on the ice for a 5-v-5 goal against. In 6 games he has a +14 rating, and has been Canada's go-to guy with around 25mins of TOI in the last two elimination games.

He admittedly still needs to actually show that he can play in the NHL, but he's clearly one of the most (if not the most) NHL ready prospects in the WJC.

TSN shows 1-3-4, IIHF shows 1-4-5.

 

[Richard88]

So you hold him and gradually dip in him into the roster. No harm, no foul. It's not like Colorado has been the sparkling example of health the last two seasons.

One could simply replace Cole with another similar 6/7Dman who is considerably cheaper, in order to find enough capspace to fit a Bonino type in as well.

As an example, consider if Cole could be converted into Bonino and Coburn in trades along the lines of the ones below (which may or may not need extra picks, that's not the point here though).

I imagine COL banks their cap space and makes a move in season for a Bonino type.

Contenders don't drop out proven vets like Cole.

Avs won't have much unused capspace to bank. There's currently $1.8m in capspace with a 20 man roster, and adding 2 guys at $850k contracts takes care of $1.7m of that, leaving only $100k towards cap accrual. Granted, there will also likely be bankable capspace from players going on IR during the season, but either way most of that banked cap will need to go towards covering signing bonuses for Makar/Byram/Kaut which will likely be a significant chunk of the $5.45m maximum bonuses.

That being the case, if upgrades are to be made to the main roster it likely needs to come from sacrificing someone with a high caphit relative to his role on the team, making Cole the obvious odd man out.

I do get the point that contenders don't typically trade veteran Dman, which is certainly a valid one. However, in the interest of optimising capspace replacing Cole with someone like Coburn could be a shrewd move if it allows the roster to be upgraded elsewhere as well (eg. a better 3C).

Flat cap he’s worth another contract of similar size. Avs should keep him either on third pair or in the press box every other night. Can never have enough d-men especially for a team that has designs on a deep run into the playoffs.

$4.25m is a lot of capspace sitting in the press box every other night.

 

[mouser]

Avs won't have much unused capspace to bank. There's currently $1.8m in capspace with a 20 man roster, and adding 2 guys at $850k contracts takes care of $1.7m of that, leaving only $100k towards cap accrual. Granted, there will also likely be bankable capspace from players going on IR during the season, but either way most of that banked cap will need to go towards covering signing bonuses for Makar/Byram/Kaut which will likely be a significant chunk of the $5.45m maximum bonuses.

That being the case, if upgrades are to be made to the main roster it likely needs to come from sacrificing someone with a high caphit relative to his role on the team, making Cole the obvious odd man out.

I do get the point that contenders don't typically trade veteran Dman, which is certainly a valid one. However, in the interest of optimising capspace replacing Cole with someone like Coburn could be a shrewd move if it allows the roster to be upgraded elsewhere as well (eg. a better 3C).


$4.25m is a lot of capspace sitting in the press box every other night.

For clarity: players going on IR don't create bankable cap space.

 

[Mrfenn92]

@Richard88

Yes $4.25 cap is a lot to be a bottom pair/scratch but what other will send anything of value other then a similar player with about the same cap.
Avs are better off keeping as insurance for injuries and a potential deep playoff run.
Cole has been through the battles already.

 

[themelkman]

Something negative. Just a reality of the flat cap

 

[TruePowerSlave]

The Avs are more than fine having Cole and their solid depth on defense. I see Byram pushing Cole as the #7 D eventually.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Cole isn't going anywhere at least not to start the season. He's a decent depth defenceman and is good insulation for the young guys like Timmins and Byram. Also has Stanley cup experience which to a team like the Avs is very valuable for this season. He's gone next year anyway.

 

[GhostOfWildWing]

What would Ian Cole fetch on the trade market, either with or without retention? And what teams may be interested? He has 1 year remaining with a $4.25m caphit, though his real salary this season is only $3m.

The reason I ask is because Byram's performance at the WJC suggests that he's NHL ready, and his emergence could cause Cole to be the odd man out. Cole is in a contract year so may want to go somewhere he can get guaranteed icetime.

For reference Coach Bednar's inteded D pairs to start camp (sans Byram until WJC is over) are:

Toews --- Makar
Girard --- Johnson
Graves --- Cole
Gilbert --- Timmins​

If Byram was given a shot, isn't he LD? So who would be the guy (from Toews, Girard, Graves) they try shifting over from left to right to make space (and push Cole down/out) ?