Dhaliwal is a reputable NHL insider, particularly with regards to the Canucks, the team he covers on a regular basis. He clearly has connections within the organization, giving a lot of credibility to his comments today about Cole. He has reported that the Canucks did attempt to negotiate a contract extension, but ultimately those talks went nowhere.
Does that sound familiar at all? It should, because it is basically the exact same thing that has happened with fellow UFA defenseman Nikita Zadorov. The Canucks acquired Zadorov ahead of the trade deadline this year and he was very good for the team, especially in the playoffs. Dhaliwal reported earlier this week that contract negotiations with Zadorov have not succeeded in bringing back the big blueliner.
As such, both Cole and Zadorov figure to hit the open market. It is not clear where Zadorov will sign, but there will certainly be plenty of suitors. As for Cole, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun has linked him to the Boston Bruins.
