The Montreal Canadiens’ decision to sign Erik Cole to a four-year contract worth an average of $4.5 million per season was initially met with optimism. Cole was viewed as a power forward who could add a physical presence and scoring touch to the team. However, as the season progresses, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this signing may not be working out as planned. This is not necessarily a reflection of Erik Cole’s abilities as a player but rather a sign of a larger issue within the Canadiens’ management and scouting departments.
The Role of a $4.5M Forward
When a team invests significant cap space in a forward, expectations naturally follow. A player with a cap hit of $4.5 million is expected to be a top-six forward, contributing consistently at even strength and on special teams, particularly the power play. However, Erik Cole’s utilization in Montreal raises serious concerns about whether management properly evaluated his fit within the team’s system before making the commitment.
Breaking Down the Ice Time
Cole’s deployment thus far has been puzzling. Below are his average time on ice numbers per game:
- Even Strength: 13:29 (6th among Habs forwards)
- Power Play: 1:08 (9th among Habs forwards)
- Penalty Kill: 0:00 (last among Habs forwards)
- Total Ice Time: 14:37
To put this into context, six other Montreal forwards average more than 15:52 per game, including Mike Cammalleri. If Cole is not being used extensively in offensive situations, it raises the question of whether his salary is justified.
The Power Play Problem
The most glaring issue is his power play usage. Among forwards earning at least $4.5 million per season, Cole ranks near the bottom in power play time per game. Below is a comparison to other high-paid forwards:
| Rank | Player | Team | PP TOI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ilya Kovalchuk | NJD | 6:33 |
| 2 | Shane Doan | PHX | 6:04 |
| 3 | Tomas Fleischmann | FLA | 5:43 |
| 4 | Phil Kessel | TOR | 5:05 |
| 5 | Jeff Carter | CLB | 4:51 |
| 6 | Rick Nash | CLB | 4:46 |
| 7 | Brad Richards | NYR | 4:45 |
| 8 | Zach Parise | NJD | 4:39 |
| 9 | Anze Kopitar | LAK | 4:38 |
| 10 | Patrik Elias | NJD | 4:35 |
| 11 | Henrik Sedin | VAN | 4:31 |
| 12 | Danny Briere | PHI | 4:29 |
| 13 | Daniel Sedin | VAN | 4:28 |
| 14 | Ryan Getzlaf | ANA | 4:27 |
| 15 | Eric Staal | CAR | 4:26 |
| 16 | Tomas Plekanec | MTL | 4:24 |
| 17 | Henrik Zetterberg | DET | 4:23 |
| 18 | Corey Perry | ANA | 4:21 |
| 19 | Patrick Marleau | SJS | 4:21 |
| 20 | Joe Thornton | SJS | 4:20 |
| 21 | Pavel Datsyuk | DET | 4:19 |
| 22 | Patrice Bergeron | BOS | 4:19 |
| 23 | Mike Ribeiro | DAL | 4:17 |
| 24 | Patrick Kane | CHI | 4:15 |
| 25 | Jonathan Toews | CHI | 4:12 |
| 26 | Steven Stamkos | TBL | 4:10 |
| 27 | Evgeni Malkin | PIT | 4:04 |
| 28 | Mike Richards | LAK | 4:01 |
| 29 | Brian Rolston | NYI | 3:54 |
| 30 | Nicklas Backstrom | WAS | 3:50 |
| 31 | Martin St. Louis | TBL | 3:47 |
| 32 | Vincent Lecavalier | TBL | 3:45 |
| 33 | Marian Gaborik | NYR | 3:44 |
| 34 | Jason Spezza | OTT | 3:44 |
| 35 | Alex Ovechkin | WAS | 3:43 |
| 36 | Dany Heatley | MIN | 3:36 |
| 37 | Alexander Semin | WAS | 3:36 |
| 38 | Thomas Vanek | BUF | 3:33 |
| 39 | Andy McDonald | STL | 3:29 |
| 40 | Mikko Koivu | MIN | 3:26 |
| 41 | Marian Hossa | CHI | 3:19 |
| 42 | David Legwand | NAS | 3:19 |
| 43 | Brian Gionta | MTL | 3:18 |
| 44 | Mike Cammalleri | MTL | 3:16 |
| 45 | Jason Pominville | BUF | 3:14 |
| 46 | Ryan Malone | TBL | 3:05 |
| 47 | Paul Stastny | COL | 3:03 |
| 48 | Scott Gomez | MTL | 3:00 |
| 49 | Martin Erat | NAS | 2:58 |
| 50 | Daymond Langkow | PHX | 2:58 |
| 51 | Jarome Iginla | CGY | 2:55 |
| 52 | Ryan Smyth | EDM | 2:50 |
| 53 | Brooks Laich | WAS | 2:49 |
| 54 | Daniel Alfredsson | OTT | 2:47 |
| 55 | David Backes | STL | 2:35 |
| 56 | Shawn Horcoff | EDM | 2:17 |
| 57 | Bobby Ryan | ANA | 1:38 |
| 58 | Erik Cole | MTL | 1:08 |
| 59 | Ville Leino | BUF | 0:28 |
A shocking statistic emerges from this analysis: 56 other high-earning forwards play at least double the power play minutes that Cole does. Bobby Ryan, who ranks just ahead of him, still averages 30 more seconds on the power play while playing four more minutes per game overall.
A Question for Canadiens Management
If I were the owner of the Montreal Canadiens, I would be asking my general manager two critical questions:
- When you signed Erik Cole, did you expect that he wouldn’t be getting power play time and that he wouldn’t be among the top six forwards in total ice time?
- If yes, why are we paying a player $4.5 million for a bottom-six role?
- If no, how did our pro scouting department fail so badly in assessing where he would fit within our system?
This scenario is eerily similar to the situation with Scott Gomez, a player whose contract has made him a target for fans’ frustrations. If Cole continues to be underutilized, it won’t be long before fans start voicing their concerns, even if the problem isn’t his fault.
Where Do the Canadiens Go From Here?
To salvage this situation, the Canadiens have a few potential options:
- Increase Cole’s Power Play Time: If he was brought in to provide secondary scoring, he needs more opportunities with the man advantage. Placing him on the second power play unit could help him find his rhythm.
- Adjust Line Combinations: If Cole is struggling to produce, perhaps a different set of linemates would maximize his strengths. Finding the right chemistry is crucial.
- Consider a Trade: If the coaching staff does not see Cole as a fit in the top six or on the power play, then moving his contract before it becomes an albatross might be the best solution.
Final Thoughts
While Erik Cole remains a talented player, the way he is being used in Montreal raises serious concerns about the Canadiens’ roster management. A player earning $4.5 million should not be playing fourth-line minutes on the power play. Whether this is a failure of scouting, coaching, or cap management, one thing is clear—Montreal needs to find a way to get more value out of Erik Cole before this contract becomes another mistake in the team’s salary cap history.