Erik Cole Appreciation Post.
I really don't think words can describe just how thrilled I am that we've acquired not only a really solid, consistent, physical player, but a player who really loves our city and really wants to play for our team.
Ever since the Pronger fiasco, free agents and the like have out-right avoided this city. (Cases: Marian Hossa left 85 million dollars on the table to sign with Detroit. Michael Nylander made an agreement to play for us only to turn away and sign with Washington. After we lost in the Cup Final in '06, almost every single one of our free agents walked away from the team, leaving us in near shambles. Catch my drift?) Granted, Cole was not a free agent and he came here through a trade, but he's genuinely excited to be here.
Right now, Cole is in town trying to buy a house as soon as possible. He's not wasting any time hanging out in hotel rooms. He's settling down for the future. He's EXCITED about moving his family, he says his son (4 years old next week) is going to love living in a hockey city. He's got a year left on his contract and he just got here but he's already talking about an extension.
"I'm extremely excited to be joining not just a great franchise, but a great hockey market," said Cole, who has played his entire six-year career in Carolina. "At the end of last season I found myself flipping through the NHL package trying to find their games to watch and see if they could squeak into the playoffs."
He scores, he hits, he's responsible, he likes Edmonton. That's the kind of player I want playing here.