PuckSleuth
28

Chicago Blackhawks · Defense · Shoots L

Ian Cole

Age 37 · 6'1" · 237 lb · Born in Ann Arbor, USA

Cap hit

$4M

3.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$968K

vs. $4.968M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2026-27 regular season

GP

2

Goals

0

Assists

0

0 primary

Points

0

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

13:46

PP 0:04 · PK 1:47

xGF%

37.6

5v5, -14.3 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.10

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

0

Blocks 2 · Hits 0

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 1
@ UTA · L 6-0
0000114:520:071:24—33100+0.15
Sep 29
@ VGK · L 5-2
0000112:400:002:09—0100-0.36
May 1
vs VGK · L 5-1
0020117:510:001:16—010-2-0.17
Apr 29
@ VGK · OTL 5-4
0014024:370:005:37—020+1-0.15
Apr 27
vs VGK · OTL 5-4
1013321:330:004:41—4020-1+0.75

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,208 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%51.9%

72nd percentile

Relative xGF%-0.8

46th percentile

HDCF%51.5%

62nd percentile

CF%50.2%

60th percentile

Relative CF%-4.2

16th percentile

FF%51.7%

75th percentile

GF%51.5%

62nd percentile

CF/6056.8

55th percentile

CA/6056.3

61st percentile

ixG/600.17

39th percentile

Goals above expected-0.5

33rd percentile

IPP32.1%

40th percentile

PDO100.2

51st percentile

OZS%44.8%

39th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleReliable defensive veteran

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Cole plays a steady, defensive-minded game with solid impact in his own zone and strong physicality that anchors play. His limited puck-handling skills and low shot volume keep him from generating offense despite decent playmaking ability.

Physical defenderLow-event playerDefensive anchor
Shooting volume
23
Playmaking
64
Zone entries(est.)
56
Forechecking
61
Physicality
70
Defensive impact
75
Puck management
11
Speed
33

Where he shoots from

Slot 13% · Mid-range 21% · Perimeter 66%(112 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Defensive impact at 75th percentile provides reliable protection in own zone
  • Physicality at 70th percentile establishes presence and disrupts opponents
  • Playmaking at 64th percentile enables functional outlet passes

Watch-outs

  • Puck management at 11th percentile limits breakout efficiency and transition play
  • Speed at 33rd percentile affects gap control and recovery
  • Shooting volume at 23rd percentile means minimal offensive threat

Similar style: Kaedan Korczak (PIT), Emil Andrae (CBJ)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 82 GP · goals above average

Season total -2.1 goals, or -0.03 per game.

Even strength defense
+0.8
Penalty kill
-0.5
Finishing
-0.4
Playmaking
+0.1
Penalties
-1.9

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-SOGTOI/GPFO%GS/GP
2026-27CHI20000013:46—-0.10
2025-26UTA8232023+166218:16—-0.03
2024-25UTA8211617-26620:17—-0.12
2023-24VAN782911+106118:41—-0.04
2022-23TBL7831417+1310919:23—-0.07

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 37, defensemen typically produce 59% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed
18.9 mph
18th pct
20+ mph bursts
0
Hardest shot
—
Distance
1.7 mi
OZ time
38.3%
22nd pct
DZ time
46.3%