Utah signs Ian Cole to one-year contract extension

The Utah Hockey Club announced Wednesday that it has signed defenseman Ian Cole to a one-year contract extension. Per TSN’s Chris Johnston, Cole’s extension will carry a $3-million annual average value, including $2.8 million in base salary plus an additional $200,000 in games played bonuses.

Through 61 appearances with Utah this season, Cole has scored one goal and added 12 assists for 13 points alongside 53 penalty minutes and a minus-eight rating. A defensive-minded blue-liner, Cole sits second among Utah defensemen in averaging 2:51 in short-handed ice time per game, while his 160 blocked shots top the charts league wide.

“Ian’s championship pedigree, work ethic, and leadership on and off the ice are valuable assets to our group, and we’re thrilled to have him remain with our organization as we fight for a playoff spot,” Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said in a statement.

Originally chosen 18th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2007 NHL Draft, the 36-year-old native of Ann Arbor, Mich., has seen 887 career contests counting stops with the Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, and Utah in which he has collected 35 goals and 171 assists for 206 points. Cole has also notched 31 points in 129 postseason appearances, underscored by back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.

Cole’s extension comes on the heels of Utah announcing new contracts for forward Alex Kerfoot and fellow defenseman Olli Maatta this week.

For Utah, the team sits 27-25-9 on the season and four points back of the Calgary Flames for the second wildcard seed in the Western Conference. Utah will look to continue its push toward a playoff position when the squad returns to the ice Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.