Ian
Cole
D · CHI · Defensive · Very good
- PAL
- 76
- WAR
- 1.2
- Value
- 72
- PTS
- 23
2025-26№ 58 / 325
Ian Cole (Chicago Blackhawks) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Ian Cole
HEIGHT : 185 cm · WEIGHT : 108 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : February 20, 1989 · Ann Arbor, United States
Drafted : 2007 · STL · round 1, pick #18
Contract : $4,000,000 · 2026-27 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Chicago Blackhawks | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2025-26 | Utah Mammoth | 82 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 50 |
| 2024-25 | Utah Hockey Club | 82 | 1 | 16 | 17 | 77 |
| 2023-24 | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 61 |
| 2022-23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 78 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 61 |
| 2021-22 | Carolina Hurricanes | 75 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 83 |
| 2020-21 | Minnesota Wild | 52 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 32 |
| 2020-21 | Colorado Avalanche | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | Colorado Avalanche | 65 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 36 |
| 2018-19 | Colorado Avalanche | 71 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 115 |
| 2017-18 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 20 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 24 |
| 2017-18 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 47 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 52 |
| 2016-17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 81 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 72 |
| 2015-16 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 70 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 59 |
| 2014-15 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 20 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| 2014-15 | St. Louis Blues | 54 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 44 |
| 2013-14 | St. Louis Blues | 46 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 31 |
| 2012-13 | St. Louis Blues | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 2011-12 | St. Louis Blues | 26 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 22 |
| 2010-11 | St. Louis Blues | 26 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 35 |
| NHL totals | 1008 | 38 | 195 | 233 | 877 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Utah Mammoth | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | Vancouver Canucks | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2022-23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | Carolina Hurricanes | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 2020-21 | Minnesota Wild | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2019-20 | Colorado Avalanche | 15 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 2018-19 | Colorado Avalanche | 12 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 |
| 2017-18 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 25 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 22 |
| 2015-16 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
| 2014-15 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 2011-12 | St. Louis Blues | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 135 | 4 | 29 | 33 | 102 | |
Honours
- 🏆 Stanley Cup2 times · 2016-17, 2015-16
Ian Cole: our analysis
2025-26 season: 82 GP, 3 G, 20 A, 23 PTS, +16 +/-, 18:16 TOI. WAR 1.2 (58th of 325) · PAL 76, very good.
In 2025-26, Ian Cole, 37, posts a PAL Rating of 76 out of 100 (very good), and his WAR of 1.2 ranks 58th among 325 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: defense (89, among the best in the league), penalty kill (85, among the best in the league) and possession (83, well above average). On the other hand, shooting (28, below average) and discipline (32, below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+3.7); his biggest cost: penalties (-1.7).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 51 in 2024-25 to 76; his WAR went from 0.7 to 1.2.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 72 (good value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Ian Cole's story
Raised in Ann Arbor, Ian Cole learned to skate at Yost Ice Arena and spent time on outdoor rinks before moving into the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2005 to 2007. That foundation put him on the path to college hockey and the NHL draft.
Selected 18th overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2007, Cole opted to develop at the University of Notre Dame, where he played from 2007–08 through 2009–10. He finished his collegiate career with 69 points in 111 games and experienced Notre Dame’s first Frozen Four appearance in 2008. After his junior year he turned pro and joined the Blues’ organization, beginning in the AHL with the Peoria Rivermen.
Cole made his NHL debut on November 6, 2010, and scored his first NHL goal on March 9, 2011, against Columbus. A major change came in March 2015 when he was traded to Pittsburgh; he then signed a three-year deal to remain with the Penguins and was part of their Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2016 and 2017. The 2016–17 season marked his offensive peak with 26 points and heavy postseason usage.
His career afterward involved several moves: a trade to Ottawa in February 2018 and an immediate trade to Columbus, a three-year contract with Colorado in July 2018, a trade to Minnesota in January 2021, and a one-year deal with Carolina in July 2021 where he scored an overtime winner in the 2022 playoffs. Subsequent one-year contracts followed with Tampa Bay, Vancouver and the Utah Hockey Club, and he signed with Chicago for the 2026–27 season. Across those stops he was regularly deployed as a dependable third-pairing defenseman who could steady a blue line and chip in offensively when needed.
Internationally, Cole shone at the 2007 World Junior Championship, recording four goals and an assist in seven games to help the United States to a bronze medal. Overall, his game mixes physicality and positional reliability with occasional offensive contributions.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 18:21
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:02
- SH TOI/GP
- 2:48
- Pts/GP
- 0.00
- EV points
- 0
- Hits
- 15
- Blocks
- 28
- Takeaways
- 4
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 47.0 %
- Off. zone starts
- 18.8 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
14between 4 and 23 (80% range)
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 11
- Games
- 83
So far: 0 pts in 18 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.21 pts per game (last season: 0.28).
Three straight seasons of growth. Since 2018, of 97 players in that spot, 23 kept improving the next season; on average, their pace fell back to 90% of their best season.
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Slightly up
- Points per game: 0.14 in 23-24, 0.28 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 51 → 76
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 37: the age when production usually declines
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 85 %
76
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 55
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 88
- Confidence 88 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 74
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 91
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 77
- Confidence 88 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 85
- Confidence 66 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 56
- Confidence 88 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 76
- Confidence 85 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 55
- Confidence 85 %
- DF
- Defense
- 89
- Confidence 83 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 96
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating55
- Top speed (35 %)34.8 · 67
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)0.846 · 56
- Distance /60 (20 %)13.3 · 46
- Speed consistency (15 %)33.7 · 64
ST — Strength88
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)5.382 · 77
- Body mass (50 %)1.794 · 89
EN — Endurance74
- Ice time per game (45 %)18.6 · 74
- Total ice time (20 %)1,465 · 77
- Shift length (15 %)44.9 · 65
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)17.8 · 76
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)2.842 · 81
DU — Durability91
- Share of games played (100 %)0.89 · 91
CK — Checking77
- Hits /60 (70 %)3.484 · 76
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)3.005 · 77
- Season volume (10 %)4.304 · 78
FG — Fighting85
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)1.254 · 85
DI — Discipline56
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.092 · 56
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.91 · 61
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.372 · 74
PA — Passing76
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.337 · 72
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.369 · 70
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.077 · 83
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.128 · 75
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.155 · 64
SC — Scoring55
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.122 · 56
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.157 · 64
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.1 · 59
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.048 · 59
- xG per shot (10 %)0.034 · 69
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)7.764 · 59
DF — Defense89
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.169 · 89
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.186 · 87
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.465 · 84
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.069 · 81
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-2.573 · 58
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)55.2 · 87
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)6.296 · 96
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience96
- Career regular-season games (65 %)97
- Career playoff games (25 %)93
- NHL seasons (10 %)96
OV — Overall76
- DF · Defense (30 %)89
- PA · Passing (22 %)76
- SK · Skating (12 %)55
- SC · Scoring (12 %)55
- EN · Endurance (9 %)74
- ST · Strength (6 %)88
- DI · Discipline (5 %)56
- CK · Checking (4 %)77
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 76 | 55 | 55 | 89 |
| 2024-25 | 71 | 55 | 47 | 88 |
| 2023-24 | 78 | 55 | 56 | 97 |
| 2022-23 | 79 | 60 | 67 | 93 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
1.2
wins above replacement
58 of 325
PAL Rating
76/ 100
Performance · Very good
56 of 250 at the position
Value Rating
72/ 100
Good value
2.80 M$ · expected PAL 55
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 56
- Defense
- 90
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 49
- Creation
- 49
- Shooting
- 28
- Possession
- 83
- Defense
- 89
- Discipline
- 32
- Power play
- 49
- Penalty kill
- 85
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | UTA | 1.2 | 76 | 72 | 2.80 M$ |
| 2024-25 | UTA | 0.7 | 51 | 44 | 3.10 M$ |
| 2023-24 | VAN | 1.7 | 84 | 77 | 3.00 M$ |
| 2022-23 | TBL | 0.6 | 76 | 65 | 3.00 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
14/ 100
Low
better than 14% of defensemen, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
57/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
5/ 100
Low
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 193 of 225 defensemen.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 60
- Shot selection
- 56
- Penalties drawn
- 44
- Puck management
- 68
Defense
- Takeaways
- 24
- Discipline
- 19
- Safe zone exits
- 4
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | UTA | 14 | 57 | 5 |
| 2024-25 | UTA | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | VAN | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | TBL | 14 | 26 | 16 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
1.2
wins above replacement
0.4 to 1.8 — 90% interval
58 of 325 defensemen
+6.3 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +1.8
- EV defense
- +3.7
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Shooting
- -0.7
- Penalties
- -1.7
- Average → replacement
- +3.1
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | UTA | 82 | 1.2 | 0.4 to 1.8 | 58/325 |
| 2024-25 | UTA | 78 | 0.7 | -0.0 to 1.5 | 79/314 |
| 2023-24 | VAN | 78 | 1.7 | 1.0 to 2.6 | 22/316 |
| 2022-23 | TBL | 78 | 0.6 | -0.3 to 2.0 | 70/334 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 133.5 km/h21st percentileleague avg. 139.7 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 32.2 km/h10th percentileleague avg. 34.0 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 110th percentileleague avg. 8
- Offensive zone time
- 38.0 %10th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 71.0 km61st percentileleague avg. 56.1 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 5.40 km67th percentileleague avg. 4.98 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 40.0 %16th percentileleague avg. 42.8 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.6 %77th percentileleague avg. 16.9 %
- Defensive zone time
- 43.4 %13th percentileleague avg. 40.8 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 1246th percentile | 049th percentile | 0.0 %27th percentile |
| High danger | 051st percentile | 084th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Mid range | 366th percentile | 073rd percentile | 0.0 %50th percentile |
| Long range | 543rd percentile | 077th percentile | 0.0 %67th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
CAR
TBL
FLA
COL
BOS
DET
LAK
MTL
DAL
WPG
PIT
NYI
STL
BUF
UTA
VGKIan Cole: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Ian Cole have in 2026-27?
Ian Cole has 0 goals and 0 points (0 assists) in 18 games in 2026-27.
How old is Ian Cole?
Ian Cole is 37 years old: he was born on February 21, 1989.
How tall is Ian Cole, and how much does he weigh?
Ian Cole is 6'1" (185 cm) and weighs 238 lb (108 kg).
Where is Ian Cole from?
United States: Ian Cole was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.
What team does Ian Cole play for?
Ian Cole plays for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL, at D, wearing number 28.
Is Ian Cole injured?
No: Ian Cole is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Ian Cole?
Ian Cole produced 1.2 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 58th of 325 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 76 out of 100: very good for his position.
How much does Ian Cole make?
Ian Cole earns $2.8M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 72 out of 100 (good value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Ian Cole's contract end?
Ian Cole's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Ian Cole overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 72 out of 100 (good value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Ian Cole a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 58th of 325 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Ian Cole getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 51 in 2024-25 to 76 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Ian Cole played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Ian Cole has 0 points (0 goals, 0 assists).
What are Ian Cole's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Ian Cole has 1,008 games, 38 goals, 195 assists and 233 points. His best season: 2019-20, with 26 points in 65 games.
Where was Ian Cole drafted?
Ian Cole was drafted 18th overall (round 1) by St. Louis Blues in 2007.
Is Ian Cole better at home or on the road?
No real difference: in 2026-27, he averages 0.00 points per game at home (0 in 9 games) and 0.00 on the road (0 in 9 games).
How does Ian Cole perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Ian Cole has 135 games and 33 points in his career. His pace (0.24 points per game) is similar to his regular-season pace (0.23).
Which player is most similar to Ian Cole?
Tyler Kleven: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Tyler Kleven's page →Is Ian Cole a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 14 points in 2026-27, or 0.17 points per game.
What is Ian Cole's nationality?
Ian Cole is American. Internationally: United States national junior team: bronze at the 2007 World Junior Championships (4 goals and 1 assist in 7 games). Appeared at the tournament in 2007, 2008 (held pointless) and 2009 (2 goals and 2 assists).
How many championships has Ian Cole won?
2: Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016; Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017.
Where did Ian Cole play before turning pro?
U.S. National Team Development Program (2005–2007); University of Notre Dame, Fighting Irish (2007–2010), 69 points in 111 games..
How many points is Ian Cole projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 14 points in 83 games in 2026-27 (4 to 23 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Chicago Blackhawks teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)