Chicago Blackhawks to sign 2x Stanley Cup Champion to replace Corey Perry

The Vancouver Canucks are reportedly letting one of their most valuable defensemen, in the veteran-presence category, walk in free agency in hopes to find a new organization.

NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal, who covers the Vancouver Canucks are a reporter, shared the following:

Along with Ian Cole, it appears the Canucks are letting former Chicago Blackhawks defensemen Nikita Zadorov walk as well, they are really heading into next season with a clean slate on the back end (defense).

Ian Cole, being 35-years of age and a former two-time Stanley Cup Champion, is clearly going to be on the Chicago Blackhawks' radar as he would be the oldest defensemen on the teams back end if he were to sign.

With Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del-Mastro, Nolan Allan, Alex Vlasic and several other youth-elite talented prospects the Blackhawks hold; an older locker-room and on-ice presence is much needed. Hence why Corey Perry was brought in, for an off and on-ice presence, but we all know how that ended..

Ian Cole is linked to the Boston Bruins, according to TSN reporter Pierre LeBrun, but we all know the Chicago Blackhawks have more than enough cap space ($35M) than the Boston Bruins who are cap-strapped.

As the Blackhawks took on veterans like Jack Johnson to lead the group throughout the regular season, then proceeded to flip them at the trade deadline to contending teams, Ian Cole is likely to become a Chicago Blackhawks come July 1st, when free agency opens.

Source: TheHockeyNews
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