Avalanche send ex-Penguins defenseman Ian Cole to Wild

DENVER — Colorado and Minnesota swapped veteran defensemen Tuesday, with the Avalanche acquiring Greg Pateryn and the Wild receiving former Pittsburgh Penguin Ian Cole.

The trade represents a significant salary-cap savings for Colorado from Cole’s $4.25 million hit to Pateryn’s $2.25 million. It also frees up a spot on the left side of the blue line for 19-year-old Avalanche prospect Bowen Byram.

“The trade really works for them, and the trade really works for us,” said Wild general manager Bill Guerin, who served in the Penguins front office when Cole played for Pittsburgh. “And that’s what’s most important, I think, in making deals is you make a fair deal.”

Cole, who turns 32 in February, didn’t register a point through two games. He had a career-high 22 assists last season for Colorado. He also had 83 hits and 122 blocked shots in 65 games during the 2019-20 season.

A first-round pick by St. Louis in 2007, Cole has 26 goals and 112 assists in 543 games with the Blues, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Colorado. He won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with Pittsburgh in ’15-16 and ’16-17.

“Since coming into the league as a first-round pick, he’s adjusted his game and really kind of gotten comfortable with what he really is,” Guerin said. “I think if you were to categorize him, he’d be more of a stay-at-home defenseman right now. But he certainly has the skill to make good plays, good passes. He’s very aggressive in front of our net. He’s a willing and able shot-blocker. He’s an excellent penalty killer, and those are things that we value.”

Colorado signed Cole as a free agent July 1, 2018. He had six goals and 35 assists in 138 games in an Avalanche sweater.

The 30-year Pateryn had two assists in three games for the Wild this season.

Since being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 draft by Toronto, Pateryn has four goals and 37 assists over 270 career games with Montreal, Dallas and Minnesota. He had a career-high 12 assists in ‘17-18 with the Stars.

“Greg is a strong, veteran defenseman who plays a heavy game,” Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said in a statement. “He’s a hard-nosed, competitive player who can kill penalties, block shots and brings some additional grit to our back line.”