Could this be Cole’s last season in the NHL?
Will this be Erik Cole’s last season in the NHL?
Pat Hickey reports that Cole, speaking to the media Friday in Brossard, said family considerations and unhappiness over the new collective bargaining agreement will force him to review his situation at the end of the season.
“I enjoyed my time at home and the kids are in school here until the end of June and we’ll reevaluate things after that,” said Cole, who first raised the prospect of early retirement in October.
“I want to have a conversation with the (players association) about some of the escrow stuff and some of the fearsome things in the new CBA. Family-wise it’s a transition year with my daughter in school next year and I think it’s something to be considered and everybody should consider this when they look at the new CBA, not just the way it affects the group but how it affects you individually.”
Cole touched on one of the key issues in the lockout when he noted players won’t receive the full value of their contracts with the players’ share of hockey-related revenue dropping from 57 per cent to 50 per cent. Cole is in the second year of a four-year deal with an annual cap hit of $4.5 milion.
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