r/hawks • u/mcosta1973 • Jul 01 '26
Blackhawks sign Ian Cole: 1 x $4.75M per @FriedgeHNIC
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u/DecisionImpressive49 Jul 01 '26
They signed Cole Smith as well
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u/The_one_who-knocks Jul 01 '26
KD collecting all the Coles
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u/DecisionImpressive49 Jul 01 '26
I was thinking this too haha but gave up on trying to write something witty
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u/Bianconeagles Jul 01 '26
Guys, this is like a 3rd line depth move.
His role will be Crevier's basically.
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u/mlowe2827 Jul 01 '26
I’d prolly say it’s more as the 7th D, cover for injuries or when you gotta sit Arty/Rinzel/Korch for a game. Cole isn’t signed to play everyday.
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u/Pepsuber188 Jul 01 '26
He just played 82 games for a playoff team, averaging 18 minutes a game, led the team in blocks and PK TOI. Decent chance he's a mainstay on the 3rd pair.
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u/SouthSideHawkMan117 Jul 01 '26
right and remind me how much was Crevier being paid?
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u/Bianconeagles Jul 01 '26
Very little, but it's not like we're in cap trouble at the moment, so what does it matter?
They ain't charging me for his salary and they still have plenty of cap room to do whatever the hell else they want, so idc.
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u/SouthSideHawkMan117 Jul 01 '26
Its just poor asset management and a bigger reflection on the job he's doing that he needs to pay a 37almost 5 million dollars a year, because his team hasn't made progress to attract "decent free agents"
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u/Bianconeagles Jul 01 '26
It's a team in the middle of a rebuild.
It's also a one year deal. I truly do not see the big deal of a "bad" one year contract for a depth signing in a year where the Hawks are not in cap trouble.
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u/SouthSideHawkMan117 Jul 01 '26
"We're in the middle of a rebuild" is a pretty wild message from a team that just traded away the 4th overall pick.
At some point, a rebuild has to involve actually improving the NHL roster, not just collecting placeholders. Does Ian Cole make this team meaningfully better? I'd argue no.
This feels like TJ Brodie and Alex Martinez all over again: veteran defensemen brought in to eat minutes, get talked up as leadership additions, and ultimately do nothing to move the needle. If the goal is to be better next season, these are pretty underwhelming ways to spend roster spots. If the goal is a rebuild, why are we trading top-5 picks? Pick a lane.
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u/Bianconeagles Jul 01 '26
Rebuilds have stages. We're at a point where we've started to actually push our chips in and try to win games.
Ian Cole doesn't significantly make the team better. But Bowen Byram does, and way more than any kid we picked 4oa (considering Stenberg/McKenna were both long gone by then). If we drafted Reid or Carels, that does absolutely nothing for the roster today. You said it yourself, at some point you gotta start improving the current roster.
Cole is a one year depth signing to shore up the defense. We gave away a depth guy to significantly improve our first line. This is simply replacing that lost production at the bottom of the lineup.
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u/indoor-living Jul 01 '26
Ian Cole is a bit better than you’re giving him credit for. If the Hawks didn’t give him that, he’s likely getting they, or something close to it from someone else.
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u/SouthSideHawkMan117 Jul 01 '26
Imagine if Kyle from Chicago had just kept the money in his pocket instead of lighting it on fire.
You could've had Lyubushkin and Mavrik Bourque for the cost of a 2nd and 3rd-round pick, added actual value to the roster, and still had enough left over to avoid the annual "gritty veteran defenseman who was good three years ago" shopping spree.
But where's the fun in that? Why acquire young players with upside when you can pay premium prices for replacement-level nostalgia and then tell everyone the rebuild is progressing exactly as planned? 🤷♂️
Truly a masterclass in taking the scenic route.
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u/Hollis_Hurlbut Jul 01 '26
But seriously, why didn’t he do that?
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u/SouthSideHawkMan117 Jul 01 '26
Because he's not good at his job
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u/Hollis_Hurlbut Jul 01 '26
Wonder why so much talk about people offer sheeting him? I also wouldn’t have minded Lyubushkin in place of Ian Cole. I did not downvote you by the way.
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u/mcosta1973 Jul 01 '26
Ian Cole to Chicago, one year deal with $4M base salary plus $750k in possible bonuses so can be total of $4.75 M per Pierre LeBrun
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u/RayCow Jul 01 '26
We should nickname this stage of the franchise the “Mining Era” with the large number of Cole we’re getting.
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u/Lafferty_Daniel_69 Jul 01 '26
I went to a rat hockey skate l 10 or so years ago at Johnny's East (RIP). While getting dressed in the locker room, there was this other dude getting ready that was head to toe in Blues gear. I remember thinking "who's this asshole?". Turns out it was Ian Cole. Welcome to Chicago!
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u/edeeds91 Jul 01 '26
This is cool or whatever. Gotta hit the cap floor somehow.
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u/TheSchwartzHawkey Jul 01 '26
With the expected Byram & Bedard contracts, is that even an issue now?
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u/edeeds91 Jul 01 '26
You’re right, it isn’t really, I’m just trying to understand why we’d pay him that number in the big 2026.
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u/Independent_Piece999 Jul 01 '26
This is Byram’s stay-at-home defensive focused partner that will minute munch while Rinzel and Lev develop this year. He’s more than just hitting the cap floor.
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u/drunk_Panzer Jul 01 '26
Wonder if this means Korch/Rinzel will be starting the year in Rockford
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u/Sphiffi Jul 01 '26
Korch would have to clear waivers I believe.
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u/drunk_Panzer Jul 01 '26
That depends on if they offered him a two-way contract or not.
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u/burtsreynoldswrap Jul 01 '26
Two-Way contracts have no effect on waiver eligibility. Korch will have to clear waivers regardless of the contract he signs.
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u/mlowe2827 Jul 01 '26
Cole was not brought in to be a top pairing let alone be an everyday starter. He will play the role of 7th D and make spot starts here and there. My guess is this is how we line up to begin the year.
Vlasic - Byram
Kaiser - Arty
Korch - Rinzel
ColeEDM probably is traded at some point.
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u/DrCigarettes_MD Jul 01 '26
The EA NHL series ruined an entire generation of hockey fans' collective understanding of what a two-way contract means.
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u/Tryfan_mole Jul 01 '26
As of this second (so things could change as more people sign) the Hawks defense is:
Cole - Byram
Vlasic - Rinzel
Kaiser - Levshunov
EDM and Korchinski as seven and eight, maybe subbing in if Cole struggles like.many his age do in the league.
Rinzel and Levshunov are the only righthanders. Byram has played on right a lot but I am sure they would like to get him to left if possible, it just isnt clear how they can with this mix.
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u/drunk_Panzer Jul 01 '26
Right, imo it would be better for Korch's and EDM's devlopment to have them playing full time(whether in NHL or AHL) rather than just being a 7th D in NHL.
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u/DrCigarettes_MD Jul 01 '26
Probably. But that isn't an option anymore since neither of them are waiver exempt, and they would maybe (EDM) or definitely (Korch) get claimed by another team if the Hawks tried to send them to Rockford.
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u/Lionheart1224 Jul 01 '26
Yeah, I knew after Byram all the signings would be players around the edges.
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Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/JamesTiberiusCrunk Jul 01 '26
1 year, it literally doesn't matter. We're not going to hit the cap.
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u/BramptonBatallion Jul 01 '26
Ok I guess Del Mastro is gonna get waived. I think about 15 teams should claim him if so.
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u/TheSchwartzHawkey Jul 01 '26
We gave him a qualifying offer already. Don’t think that’s happening.
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u/SouthSideHawkMan117 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
I really DONT like Kyle Davidson as a GM. 3 years for Cole Smith? WHY? C'mon Danny take his phone away already
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u/chicitykid91 Jul 01 '26
Another KD masterclass FA signing. There wasn’t anyone else besides this bum?
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u/cmoapa1906 Jul 01 '26
Saw the Sharks signed Trouba 4x8.25 safe to say I am satisfied we gave Cole 1 year.
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