The Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens made a major trade when the two sides swapped players. The Stars sent Michael Ryder to Montreal in exchange for Erik Cole. The Canadiens also received Dallas' third round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Cole had a no-trade clause that he waived in order to enable new Montreal General Manger Marc Bergevin to make the move.
"It seemed to me it was kind of a situation where if it's not this trade, then over the next few years they were going to have to find a way to move that money," Cole said regarding the trade on Tuesday. "Marc [Bergevin] and I had a discussion about it. It was either going to happen now, or it would be this summer or next season or whenever. There's a great opportunity for me in Dallas and there's a player there that I played with for many years in Carolina in Ray Whitney."
Cole was selected by the Carolina Hurricane sin the 1998 draft and spent nine seasons from 2001-02 to 2010-11. In 2008-09, Cole played for the Edmonton Oilers, but eventually returned to Carolina the following season. In 2010-11, Cole scored 52 points and was subsequently signed by the Canadiens the following season for a four-year, $18 million contract. He produced his best season the following year with 35 goals and 61 points (he also tallied 61 points in 2006-07) but only scored six points in 17 games this season for a thriving Montreal team.
Meanwhile Ryder returns to Montreal after being drafted by the team in 1998. The 32-year old played four seasons in Montreal before heading to Boston for three years. He then signed with Dallas and put up a 35-goal, 62-point season in 2011-12. This season he scored 14 points in 19 games.
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