Historical Hurricanes: Erik Cole’s Nine-Season Impact in Raleigh – The Hockey Writers – Hockey History

So far in the “Historical Hurricanes” series, we’ve reflected on the impacts that Ray Whitney, Justin Williams, and Cam Ward had on the Carolina Hurricanes during their time in Raleigh. When it comes to a lasting legacy in Carolina, there is a long list of guys to mention. That said, in part four of this series, we will focus on Erik Cole’s lasting impact with the Hurricanes.

Nine Lives of Cole in Carolina

Back in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, the Hurricanes selected Cole 71st overall in the third round. They selected him after finishing the 1997-98 season with 11 goals and 31 points in 34 games during his freshman year at Clarkson University. After being selected by the Hurricanes, he played two more seasons with Clarkson between 1998-99 and 1999-00. Cole finished with 42 points in 36 games and 30 points in 33 games in those two seasons.

Cole would play with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the International Hockey League (IHL) during the 2000-01 season, finishing with 23 goals and 43 points in 69 games. He eventually made his NHL debut in the 2001-02 season with the Hurricanes, where he had 16 goals and 40 points in 81 games. Not a bad rookie season for the Oswego, NY native. He followed that up with six goals and nine points in 23 games, as Cole and the Hurricanes made it to the 2002 Stanley Cup Final. They eventually lost to the Detroit Red Wings in six games.

However, it was not long before Cole and the Hurricanes returned to the Stanley Cup Final. During the 2004-05 lockout season, Cole played for Eisbären Berlin in the top-flight German league (DEL) and won a title. Heading into the 2005-06 season, the Hurricanes were picked to finish dead last in the Southeast Division and the NHL. Instead, they finished second in the Eastern Conference and made it back to the Stanley Cup Final.

During the 2005-06 season, Cole had 30 goals and 59 points in 60 games. His season was cut short after Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik boarded him. It was revealed that Cole’s neck was broken, and there was no timetable for him to return. He missed the first three rounds of the playoffs and miraculously returned for Games 6 and 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers.

Even though Cole did not tally a point in those two games, he was still able to celebrate on the ice with the team after defeating the Oilers 3-1 in Game 7 to take a 4-3 series win. It was Cole’s only Stanley Cup of his career, but he helped the team that drafted him in 1998 lift their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Cole signed with the Oilers ahead of the 2008-09 season, but was traded right back to the Hurricanes after playing 63 games in Edmonton. It was an interesting situation to see Cole leave for free agency, only to be heading right back in less than a season. He would end up playing nine seasons with the Hurricanes from 2001-02 to 2007-08 and then from 2008-09 to 2010-11. In those nine seasons, Cole finished with 168 goals, 195 assists, and 363 points in 557 games.

Regarding all-time franchise lists, Cole is 14th in points, 14th in goals, 16th in assists, and 16th in games played. If it weren’t for the Orpik boarding, he could have been higher on a ton of these lists. He did finish with 29 goals and 61 points the season after winning the Stanley Cup, so it was nice to see he did not lose a step. While he finished his career with the Red Wings in 2014-15, Cole is still a Hurricane through and through.

Cole is always on the Alumni Game roster, alongside Williams, Whitney, and Ward whenever there is an alumni game. He is a beloved Hurricanes player and will always be remembered for his on-ice performances, especially returning from a broken neck in 2006. When it comes to the legacy and impact of Cole’s time in Raleigh, it will always be held in high regard.