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First Adam Cracknell was re-upped to a one year, one way deal, and now the Blues have tied up defenseman Ian Cole for two years. The contract, per Jeremy Rutherford, is a one-way deal for $750,000 next season and $900,000 the year after that. His previous salary was a $1.3 million cap hit, and he was paid $875,000 at the NHL level, so it averages out while still working with the new CBA, not that the Blues need help staying under the cap or anything.
Of course, all eyes are on Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk, and the rest of the Blues' RFAs and UFAs, but it is good to see them get a pending RFA tied up. Cole's future depends a lot on the future of other players - most notably UFAJordan Leopold and RFA Kris Russell. Cole spent a lot of time in the pressbox as the season wound down. One would expect that the Blues didn't sign him specifically to keep seats warm.
It makes me wonder if the chances of re-signing Leopold and his admittedly large price tag are nil, or if that's just the intention level. Then again...
Re-signing of Cole doesn't tell anything about #stlblues defensive plans. Army said all RFAs will be re-signed, trades always option..(1/2)
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) May 28, 2013
Russell also RFA and expected to be re-signed. Club also expected to talk to Leopold (UFA) about returning. (2/2) #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) May 28, 2013