The Penguins gained an important piece — Derick Brassard — in their three-way trade with Ottawa and Vegas Friday, but they also lost a valuable cog along their blue line.
Ian Cole played on the bottom pairing, and was a healthy scratch at times over the past few months, but he filled a very specific role in the Penguins’ defensive group.
While most of the Penguins’ defensemen under Mike Sullivan are known for their strong skating and puck-moving ability, Cole brought a more physical presence.
“Colesy was a good player for us,” Sullivan said. “He was a good defender, he was a good penalty-killer, he’s a good shot-blocker.