The Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly trying to trade 28-year-old defenseman Ian Cole. The Colorado Avalanche just sent two young D-men – Chris Bigras and Andrei Mironov – down to San Antonio, giving them only six healthy defensemen going into Wednesday’s game with Winnipeg.
Coincidence? Maybe. But based on my own reporting, I can say that the Avs have some interest in acquiring Cole, a top-six defender on the last two Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh teams. What I don’t know: Just how strong that interest is, and whether the phone lines are burning up between Penguins GM Jim Rutherford and Joe Sakic.