Red Wings acquire veteran forward Cole from Dallas

By @SKubus – DETErikCole

Ken Holland made his first move toward fortifying a Detroit Red Wings postseason run Sunday night.

Detroit acquired veteran forward Erik Cole and a conditional third-round pick in 2015 from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2015 second-round draft pick and prospects Mattias Backman and Mattias Janmark.

At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Cole should add a hard-nosed, power-forward brand of game to the Red Wings top-nine, especially in the corners and along the boards. Cole had 18 goals and 33 points in 57 games this season for the Stars and has been on a rather hot streak recently, having posted nine points in his last 10 games before the deal was made. In fact, Cole really picked up the pace in his game after the Christmas break, compiling 10 points in nine January contests. He carried that right over into February, with 10 points in 13 games. Cole will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

In his career, the 36-year-old has amassed 526 points in 881 games. He was a member of the 2002 Carolina Hurricanes team that faced Detroit in the Stanley Cup Finals, which the Red Wings of course won in five games.

Backman is a 6-foot-2, 22-year-old defenseman who started the season in Grand Rapids, but since returned to finish the season in Sweden. He had four assists in 18 games with the Griffins and has amassed 16 points in 23 games with Linkoping HC in Sweden. He was a fifth-round draft choice of the Red Wings in 2011.

Janmark, also 22, was a third-round selection of Detroit in 2013 and has amassed 36 points in 53 games this year playing forward with Frolunda HC in Sweden.

The third-round pick Detroit receives from Dallas will return to the Stars if the Red Wings advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and if Cole plays in 50% of the games.