PuckSleuth
28Cap hit
$4.75M
4.6% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$218K
vs. $4.968M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
3
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
16:03
PP 0:05 · PK 1:54
Plus/minus
+2
Hits
1
Blocks 4
PIM
2
Game Score
+0.25
per game
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 @ BUF · L 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20:37 | 0:07 | 2:08 | — | 13 | 0 | 1 | +2 | +0.75 |
| Oct 1 @ UTA · L 6-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14:52 | 0:07 | 1:24 | — | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.22 |
| Sep 29 @ VGK · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12:40 | 0:00 | 2:09 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.23 |
| May 1 vs VGK · L 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17:51 | 0:00 | 1:16 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -0.17 |
| Apr 29 @ VGK · OTL 5-4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 24:37 | 0:00 | 5:37 | — | 0 | 2 | 0 | +1 | +0.25 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,208 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
72nd percentile
46th percentile
62nd percentile
60th percentile
16th percentile
75th percentile
62nd percentile
55th percentile
61st percentile
39th percentile
33rd percentile
40th percentile
51st percentile
39th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleReliable defensive veteran
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Cole plays a steady, defensive-minded game with solid impact in his own zone and strong physicality that anchors play. His limited puck-handling skills and low shot volume keep him from generating offense despite decent playmaking ability.
- Shooting volume
- 23
- Playmaking
- 64
- Zone entries(est.)
- 56
- Forechecking
- 61
- Physicality
- 70
- Defensive impact
- 75
- Puck management
- 11
- Speed
- 33
Where he shoots from
Slot 13% · Mid-range 21% · Perimeter 66%(112 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Defensive impact at 75th percentile provides reliable protection in own zone
- Physicality at 70th percentile establishes presence and disrupts opponents
- Playmaking at 64th percentile enables functional outlet passes
Watch-outs
- Puck management at 11th percentile limits breakout efficiency and transition play
- Speed at 33rd percentile affects gap control and recovery
- Shooting volume at 23rd percentile means minimal offensive threat
Similar style: Kaedan Korczak (PIT), Emil Andrae (CBJ)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | MWEHL | Det. Victory Honda | 60 | 15 | 25 | 40 | — | — |
| 2005-06 | U-17 | USNTDP | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 14 |
| 2005-06 | NAHL | USNTDP | 40 | 2 | 8 | 10 | — | 75 |
| 2005-06 (playoffs) | NAHL | USNTDP | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | — | 14 |
| 2006-07 | U-18 | USNTDP | 42 | 6 | 11 | 17 | — | 36 |
| 2006-07 | NAHL | USNTDP | 16 | 2 | 7 | 9 | — | 28 |
| 2006-07 | WJ18-A | USA | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 | — | 6 |
| 2007-08 | CCHA | U. Of Notre Dame | 43 | 8 | 12 | 20 | — | 40 |
| 2007-08 | WJC-A | USA | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 |
| 2008-09 | CCHA | U. Of Notre Dame | 38 | 6 | 20 | 26 | — | 58 |
| 2008-09 | WJC-A | USA | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | 4 |
| 2009-10 | CCHA | U. Of Notre Dame | 30 | 3 | 16 | 19 | — | 55 |
| 2009-10 | AHL | Peoria | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | +2 | 4 |
| 2010-11 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 26 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +6 | 35 |
| 2010-11 | AHL | Peoria | 44 | 5 | 10 | 15 | +2 | 63 |
| 2011-12 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 26 | 1 | 5 | 6 | +7 | 22 |
| 2011-12 | AHL | Peoria | 22 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -8 | 26 |
| 2011-12 (playoffs) | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| 2012-13 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 10 |
| 2012-13 | AHL | Peoria | 34 | 3 | 11 | 14 | -9 | 43 |
| 2013-14 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 46 | 3 | 8 | 11 | +15 | 31 |
| 2014-15 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 54 | 4 | 5 | 9 | +16 | 44 |
| 2014-15 | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 20 | 1 | 7 | 8 | -2 | 7 |
| 2014-15 (playoffs) | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 2015-16 | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 70 | 0 | 12 | 12 | -3 | 59 |
| 2015-16 (playoffs) | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +6 | 14 |
| 2016-17 | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 81 | 5 | 21 | 26 | +26 | 72 |
| 2016-17 (playoffs) | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 25 | 0 | 9 | 9 | +2 | 22 |
| 2017-18 | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 47 | 3 | 10 | 13 | +3 | 52 |
| 2017-18 | NHL | Columbus Blue Jackets | 20 | 2 | 5 | 7 | +11 | 24 |
| 2017-18 (playoffs) | NHL | Columbus Blue Jackets | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
| 2018-19 | NHL | Colorado Avalanche | 71 | 2 | 13 | 15 | -1 | 115 |
| 2018-19 (playoffs) | NHL | Colorado Avalanche | 12 | 0 | 5 | 5 | +6 | 16 |
| 2019-20 | NHL | Colorado Avalanche | 65 | 4 | 22 | 26 | +21 | 36 |
| 2019-20 (playoffs) | NHL | Colorado Avalanche | 15 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +2 | 10 |
| 2020-21 | NHL | Colorado Avalanche | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | NHL | Minnesota Wild | 52 | 1 | 7 | 8 | +21 | 32 |
| 2020-21 (playoffs) | NHL | Minnesota Wild | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 6 |
| 2021-22 | NHL | Carolina Hurricanes | 75 | 2 | 17 | 19 | +15 | 83 |
| 2021-22 (playoffs) | NHL | Carolina Hurricanes | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +2 | 10 |
| 2022-23 | NHL | Tampa Bay Lightning | 78 | 3 | 14 | 17 | +13 | 61 |
| 2022-23 (playoffs) | NHL | Tampa Bay Lightning | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 2 | 9 | 11 | +10 | 61 |
| 2023-24 (playoffs) | NHL | Vancouver Canucks | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -3 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | Utah Hockey Club | 82 | 1 | 16 | 17 | -2 | 77 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Utah Mammoth | 82 | 3 | 20 | 23 | +16 | 50 |
| 2025-26 (playoffs) | NHL | Utah Mammoth | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 4 |
| 2026-27 | NHL | Chicago Blackhawks | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 2 |
Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Ian Cole Postgame Media Availability | 10.01.26 | Chicago Blackhawks
NHL.com · Oct 2
- What Ian Cole said before his return to Utah
deseret.com · Oct 1
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.25 per game over these 10.
Where his Game Score comes from
+0.29 per game
2025-26 · 82 GP
Season total +23.8, or +0.29 per game.
- Scoring
- +15.0
- Shooting
- +4.7
- 5-on-5 goals
- +0.5
- Defense
- +0.8
- Penalty kill
- -0.2
- Physical play
- +9.0
- Puck battles
- -4.0
- Penalties
- -1.9
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 18.9 mph
- 18th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- —
- Distance
- 1.7 mi
- OZ time
- 38.3%
- 22nd pct
- DZ time
- 46.3%
Usage
Last game: @ BUF, Oct 3
Pair 1 with Alex Vlasic (15:53 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Age curve
At 37: 59% of peak
NHL defensemen · production index
At 37, defensemen typically produce 59% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | CHI | $4.75M | 4.6% |
UFA after 2026-27. $4.75M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).