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Erik Cole traded to Red Wings, as Detroit adds vital veteran

Erik Cole traded to Red Wings, as Detroit adds vital veteran

Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill knows the Detroit Red Wings quite well. He knows their general manager quite well. So Stars fans, in theory, should take a measure of solace in knowing that the two prospects Dallas is receiving in exchange for Erik Cole are ones their general manager is confident will blossom.

From the Free Press:

The Wings sent Mattias Backman, a defense prospect who quit Grand Rapids to go back home to Sweden this season, along with forward Mattias Jarnmark, a third-round pick from 2013, and a second-round pick to Dallas in exchange for Cole and and a third-round pick that reverts to Dallas if the Wings make it to the Eastern Conference Final this spring.

Cole, 36, is in the last year of a contract making $4 million this season. At 6-2 and 205 pounds, he adds size to the Wings' forward corps, and buys them some leeway should any of their young players be as quiet as they were in last year's very brief playoff run.

Mike Heika notes that Nill drafted Backman and was influential in scheming out the draft in which they took Janmark-Nylen.

As for Cole, Heika said Stars coach Lindy Ruff gave him a stamp of approval recently:

“Erik’s played very well,” Ruff said. “I think he’s played his best hockey this year, all around. I think some last year he was dealing with his injury. Little bit of up and down early in the year, but he’s put really last two, three months, been really consistent.”

So, all that said, what does the Milbury Scale say?

The Milbury Scale 2014 - 1 Milbury
The Milbury Scale 2014 - 1 Milbury

ONE MILBURY. Dallas gets a nice return for a player that wasn't going to be back, and Detroit gets a veteran insurance policy up front for a playoff run. One, however, that hasn't scored a goal in his last 34 playoff games. Ouch.

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