Utah Hockey Club signs one-year contract with defenseman Ian Cole

The Utah Hockey Club today announced the signing of defenseman Ian Cole to a one-year contract. In accordance with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“Ian is a proven winner and a true professional on and off the ice,” said Bill Armstrong, General Manager of the Utah Hockey Club. “He has a great work ethic and is an excellent role model for our younger players. We are excited to have him in our organization.”

Cole, 35, recorded 2-9-11 and 61 penalty minutes (PIM) in 78 games and two assists in 13 playoff games with the Vancouver Canucks during the 2023-24 season. Cole led the team with 166 blocked shots last season, his third-highest total of his 14-year NHL career.

Cole recorded 3-14-17 and 61 PIM in 78 regular season games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022-23. The veteran defenseman finished the season with a plus-13 rating, tied with all Lightning defensemen, and led the entire team in shorthanded time on the ice (225:24). He also ranked third among the team’s defensemen in goals (117) and blocked shots (123).

The 6’1″, 220-pound defenseman has posted 34-159-193, plus-154, and 744 PIM in 826 NHL regular season games with the Canucks, Lighting, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues.

Cole has also played in 129 other NHL playoff games, recording 3-28-31 and 92 PIM. He is a two-time Stanley Cup winner, winning it in back-to-back years (2016 and 2017) with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since the 2015-16 season, Cole has played in the third most playoff games (122) in the NHL, trailing only Pat Maroon (134) and Corey Perry (125).

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Cole represented the United States several times during his junior career, including helping Team USA win back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2008 and 2009.

Cole was originally selected by the Blues in the first round (18th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft.