Ian Cole re-signs with Blues

St. Louis Blues defenseman Ian Cole has agreed to a contract extension with the Blues. The deal is a two-year contract, worth a total of $1.65 million. He'll make $750,000 in 2013-2014, and $900,000 in 2014-2015. The deal is also, a one-way contract. Cole who's 24, was drafted by the Blues in the 2007 NHL draft, he was picked in the first round and was picked 18th overall. He ended up making his NHL debut on November 6th, 2010 against the Boston Bruins in Boston. He scored his first career NHL goal on March 9th, 2011 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Cole has showed scoring ability while playing college hockey and in AHL (American Hockey League). He hasn't shown much of it in the NHL yet, even though he's showed flashes of it while playing for the Blues.
In college hockey while playing for Notre Dame, he played 111 games, with 17 goals, 51 assists, for a total of 68 points. While, playing in the AHL, he played 109 games, 10 goals, 28 assists, for a total of 38 points.

So, far his career stats are: 67 games played, 2 goals, 9 assists, for a total of 11 points. He also is a plus 9 in his career, and has 67 penalty minutes. 

It will be nice seeing Cole in the NHL without going to the minors, during the season. So, hopefully that can help Cole improve his game in the NHL. It's also nice to see Cole staying around. I wonder who the Blues will re-sign next.

Adam Cracknell re-signs with Blues

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed forward Adam Cracknell to a one-year contract for the 2013-2014 season. He'll earn $600,000 for this coming season. Cracknell would have been an unrestricted free agent on June 30th. He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 2004 NHL draft, picked in the 9th round and he was picked 279th overall. Cracknell, who will turn 28 in July failed to make the Flames NHL roster, and was let go by the Flames in 2009. He would end up joining the Blues on July 16, 2009, as an as an unrestricted free agent after spending four seasons in the Flames minors (2006-2009).

Cracknell would finally reach the NHL with the Blues on December 15th, 2010 against the Detroit Red Wings. He would later score his first NHL goal against the Red Wings on March 12th, 2011. He would end up playing in 24 games, scoring 3 goals, and getting 4 assists. And finished the season a plus 1. Cracknell seems to create scoring chances when he plays. And he's done well on the 4th line for the Blues. Last season, the Blues finally found a shut down 4th line which was later known as the CPR line: Adam Cracknell, Chris Porter, and Ryan Reaves. That line ended up becoming one of the Blues best lines last season, and played well in the playoffs.

So far, for his career Cracknell has played 46 games in the NHL, scoring 6 goals, with 8 assists, for a total of 14 points, and is a plus 5. Cracknell also has a total of 12 penalty minutes.

I'm a bit surprised that Cracknell got only a one-year deal, but then maybe the Blues ownership wants him to prove to them that he's worth a 2 or 3 year deal with a full-season played in the NHL in 2013-2014. It's great to know the the CPR line will be staying put.