Boston Bruins General Manager has a lot on his plate this off-season. The club needs a top-six center, a winger to potentially replace the departing Jake DeBrusk, and defensive depth on the left side. With Hampus Lindholm and Mason Lohrei, the Bruins are set with what appears to be two very good left-shot defensemen. After that, Boston has Parker Wotherspoon playing on his off-side and no real NHL depth to speak of there. Boston doesn’t need a real minutes eater, but the team could use a solid seventh defenseman.
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One name that has been in the rumor mill lately is Vancouver Canucks’ defenseman Ian Cole. The 35-year-old blue-liner is an unrestricted free agent and might be someone the Bruins look to for certain leadership and insurance on the back end. Cole was the 18th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft and has played 826 regular-season games over a 14-year career.
This season, Cole played with the Canucks on a one-year, $3 million contract and contributed two goals and nine assists in 78 regular season games. In 13 postseason games, Cole had two assists and was a minus-3 while averaging 16:49 of ice time. One quality that Cole brings to the table is his shot-blocking after totaling 166 blocks this season. Cole has also won two Stanley Cups after winning back-to-back titles with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017.
The Ann Arbor, Michigan native could be joining his ninth franchise in his career when he signs this off-season. The Bruins are in need of left-shot defensemen now that Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort will probably be finding new homes this summer. Cole would give Boston another veteran who can take over some of the penalty-killing duties of Forbort.
Cole is more of a defensive player with 63 percent of his zone starts being in the defensive end this season. The former Notre Dame star has battled injuries in his career but has played at least 70 games in each of the last three seasons.
The Bruins have more pressing needs offensively, but some help along the blue line will serve them well. Cole brings experience, shot-blocking, and a winning pedigree that could be a good fit for Boston.
Season 4. Episode 39. The Off Season – Bruins Benders Podcast
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